Effect of Health Belief Model based Educational Package on Lifestyle among Gestational Diabetic Women

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is associated with potentially harmful effects on the mother and fetus. Thus the identification of GDM offers a chance to improve pregnancy outcomes and identify women to target dietary & lifestyle health promotion. Aim of this research was to evaluate effect of health belief model based educational package on lifestyle among gestational diabetic women. Design: A quasi experimental design was utilized. Setting: This research was conducted in obstetrics & gynecological outpatient clinic and maternity hospital (high risk department) at the Zagazig University Hospital, Sharkia Governorate, Egypt. Sample: A purposive sample of (62) randomly women. Tools: Data were collected through three main tools: A self-administered questionnaire to assess women’s general characteristics and knowledge regarding gestational diabetes mellitus, health belief model scale, and health promoting lifestyle Profile II. Results: showed that there was a highly statistically significant difference regarding all knowledge items and total of all items of health belief model before and after GDM educational package implementation (P< 0.000). Moreover, there was a highly statistically significant difference in relation to all items of women’s lifestyle regarding GDM (nutrition, physical activity, stress management and health responsibility) before and after GDM educational package implementation (P < 0.001). Conclusion: There was a positive statistically significant correlation between total knowledge score, total lifestyle score and total health belief model score before and after GDM educational package implementation (p<0.001). Recommendations: Establishing strategies to enhance the women’s understanding of healthy lifestyle by applying this model to a large sample in various obstetrics and gynecological outpatient clinics.