EFFECT OF SHORT TERM PRECONCEPTION HEALTH EDUCATION ON HEALTH LOCUS OF CONTROL AMONG YOUNG FEMALES

Abstract

Objective:

To determine the effect of short term health education program on health locus of control in females (18-22 years of age), enrolled in Bachelor’s program in Fatima Jinnah University.

Study Design: Quasi-experimental.

Place and Duration of Study: Fatima Jinnah University Rawalpindi Pakistan from Jan 2016 to Dec 2016.

Material and Methods:

A sample of 281 young females was taken. Pre-intervention questionnaires were filled prior to the intervention. Intervention, in the form of a workshop was done comprising of oral lecture, video clip and flash cards. Post intervention questionnaires were filled by the same participants after 2 weeks. Questionnaires consisted of Sociodemographic profile and Multidimensional health locus of control form A.

Results:

Out of 281 participants 13.7% were 18 years old and below, 20.1% were 19, 23.7% were 20, 22.3% were 21 and 20.1% were 22 years and above. No association was found between age groups and difference in mean of internal and external health locus of control scores. The mean of pre-intervention scores of internal health locus of control was 23.78 ± 6.10 and that of post-intervention score was 25.58 ± 5.98. A p-value=0.001 (significant p-value <0.05). In case of external health locus of control mean of pre-intervention score was 23.20 ± 5.974 and of post-intervention score came out to be 23.11 ± 5.388. A p-value=0.666 (significant p-value<0.05).

Conclusions:

The results of this study depicts that short term health education program causes an effect on health locus of control as seen by change in both internal and external loci.............