The International Quarterly of Community Health Education 

About: The International Quarterly of Community Health Education is an academic journal. The journal publishes majorly in the area(s): Population & Health education. It has an ISSN identifier of 0272-684X. Over the lifetime, 1073 publications have been published receiving 8011 citations.

The role of threat and efficacy in AIDS prevention.

Abstract: The results of a factorial-design study conducted among sexually active US college students suggest that fear-provoking messages can induce behavioral changes that reduce the risk of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection as long as the recommended responses are perceived as effective. 115 students were told they were participants in a study to evaluate acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) educational materials and presented with a core message derived from AIDS prevention campaigns a case study of a fictitious AIDS patient and a message about the effectiveness of condoms. Threat (high moderate low) was varied in the core message and case study while efficacy (high low) was manipulated in the information about condoms. After reviewing the materials students completed a post-test questionnaire. A follow-up questionnaire was administered 6 weeks later. Students exposed to the high-threat message were most likely to believe AIDS is a serious disease; they further viewed themselves as more susceptible to AIDS and were more fearful of the virus than those exposed to moderate and low-threat messages. Similarly students exposed to high-efficacy messages about condoms believed condoms were more effective in preventing AIDS than low-efficacy subjects and had stronger beliefs that they could use condoms to reduce their risk of HIV infection. Students most likely to report condom use in the 6 weeks after the experiment were those in the high-threat high-efficacy subgroup. In contrast when a highly frightening AIDS message was coupled with a message that condoms often fail students attitudes toward and use of condoms deteriorated in the follow-up period. Overall these findings suggest that behavior change is most likely to occur when perceived efficacy outweighs perceived threat.

Factors Influencing Contraceptive Use in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review.

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to systematically review the literature regarding factors influencing contraceptive use in sub-Saharan Africa between 2005 and 2015. A total of 58 studies from twelve Sub-Saharan African countries were reviewed. Keywords were grouped using the PEN-3 cultural model. Negative factors prohibiting or reducing contraceptive use were women's misconceptions of contraceptive side-effects, male partner disapproval, and social/cultural norms surrounding fertility. Positive factors included education, employment, and communication with male partner. Increasing modern contraceptive use in Sub-Saharan Africa is a multi-faceted problem that will require community and systems wide interventions that aim to counteract negative perceptions and misinformation.

A Health Educator's Guide to Theories of Health Behavior:

Abstract: Numerous health behavior theories (HBTs), each which attempt to explain why individuals engage in (or fail to engage in) health-related behaviors, exist in the literature. While much attention has been devoted to testing individual theories, little attention has been paid to issues that arise in the selection of theories. The current article has three goals. First, to describe some of the most widely used individual-level HBTs. Second, to discuss the application of these theories to successful health promotion efforts. And finally, to compare and contrast numerous HBTs and provide an example for how a selected theory might be applied to a health education program. The overriding goal is to provide guidance to researchers, health educators and other interventionists with regard to the important decision of which theory to use as a basis for one's health promotion efforts.

Predicting childhood obesity prevention behaviors using social cognitive theory.

Abstract: Four commonly suggested public health strategies to combat childhood obesity are limiting television viewing, encouraging daily physical activity, increasing fruit and vegetable intake, and increasing water consumption. This study examined the extent to which selected social cognitive theory constructs can predict these four behaviors in upper elementary children. A 52-item valid and reliable scale was administered to 159 fifth graders. Minutes of physical activity was predicted by self-efficacy to exercise and number of times taught at school (R2 = 0.072). Hours of TV watching were predicted by number of times taught about healthy eating at school and self-control through goal setting (R2 = 0.055). Glasses of water consumed were predicted by expectations for drinking water (R2 = 0.091). Servings of fruits and vegetables consumed were predicted by self-efficacy of eating fruits and vegetables (R2 = 0.137). Social cognitive theory offers a practically useful framework for designing primary prevention interventions to reduce childhood obesity.