Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health

The Korean Society for Preventive Medicine (대한예방의학회)
권호 표지
DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

The Effect of an Empowerment Program on the Health-promoting Behaviors of Iranian Women Workers: A Randomized Controlled Trial

  • Noori, Fatemeh (Department of Community Health and Geriatric Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Tehran University of Medical Sciences) ;
  • Behboodimoghadam, Zahra (Department of Reproductive Health, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Tehran University of Medical Sciences) ;
  • Haghani, Shima (Nursing Care Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences) ;
  • Pashaeypoor, Shahzad (Department of Community Health and Geriatric Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Tehran University of Medical Sciences)
  • Received : 2021.02.17
  • Accepted : 2021.06.08
  • Published : 2021.07.31
Download PDF
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

Objectives: The workplace is an ideal place for encouraging health-promoting behaviors. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to determine the effect of an empowerment program on the health-promoting behaviors of women workers. Methods: This randomized clinical trial was conducted with 80 women workers employed at a food packaging facility in 2020. The subjects were selected using convenience sampling and were classified into intervention and control groups using block randomization. An empowerment program for women workers was conducted across 6 sessions based on an empowerment model. Data collection tools included a demographic questionnaire and the Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile-II, which participants completed both before the program and 8 weeks after the last session. Data analysis was performed in SPSS version 16 using descriptive analysis and inferential statistics. Results: There were no significant differences between the 2 groups in various health-promoting behaviors before the program. However, the intervention group's scores for nutrition (34.92±1.09 vs. 27.87±4.23), physical activity (24.40±2.94 vs. 17.40±5.03), stress management (26.35±2.60 vs. 23.05±4.27), spiritual growth (34.02±3.00 vs. 30.22±5.40), interpersonal relationships (30.82±2.38 vs. 27.60±4.61), and health responsibility (31.60±2.71 vs. 28.22±4.59) were significantly higher than the control group's 8 weeks after the program had ended. Moreover, there was a significant difference in the total score of health-promoting behaviors for the intervention group compared to the control group (179.00±9.22 vs. 151.42±20.25, p=0.001). Conclusions: An empowerment program for women workers led to significant improvements in the health-promoting behaviors of the participants. Similar programs can ultimately improve women's health in the workplace.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

This study is adapted from a master's thesis completed at Tehran University of Medical Sciences. We would like to thank all the women who participated in this study.

References

  1. Black CM. Working for a healthier tomorrow: Dame Carol Black's review of the health of Britain's working age population: presented to the Secretary of State for Health and the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions; 2008 [cited 2021 Jul 8]. Available from: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/209782/hwwb-working-for-a-healthier-tomorrow.pdf.
  2. Kachi Y, Inoue M, Nishikitani M, Yano E. Differences in self-rated health by employment contract and household structure among Japanese employees: a nationwide cross-sectional study. J Occup Health 2014;56(5):339-46. https://doi.org/10.1539/joh.13-0279-oa
  3. Milner A, King T, LaMontagne AD, Bentley R, Kavanagh A. Men's work, women's work, and mental health: a longitudinal investigation of the relationship between the gender composition of occupations and mental health. Soc Sci Med 2018;204:16-22. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2018.03.020
  4. Vadadahir A, Sadati M, Ahmadi B. Women's health from the perspective of health magazines in Iran. Women Res 2008;6(2):133-155.
  5. Ghanbari R, Sarooghani B, Darabi F, Bahri N, Abolfathi M. The effect of women's employment on children's quality of life. J Res Health 2017;7(3):803-809.
  6. Aagestad C, Tyssen R, Sterud T. Do work-related factors contribute to differences in doctor-certified sick leave? A prospective study comparing women in health and social occupations with women in the general working population. BMC Public Health 2016;16:235. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-016-2908-1
  7. Frankenhaeuser M, Lundberg U, Chesney M. Women, work, and health: stress and opportunities. Boston: Springer; 2012, p. 1-7.
  8. Han HR, Song Y, Kim M, Hedlin HK, Kim K, Ben Lee H, et al. Breast and cervical cancer screening literacy among Korean American women: a community health worker-led intervention. Am J Public Health 2017;107(1):159-165. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2016.303522
  9. Rosenfeld JA. Handbook of women's health. 2nd ed. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press; 2009, p. 20-25.
  10. Linsley P, Kane R, Owen S. Nursing for public health: promotion, principles and practice. New York: Oxford University Press; 2011, p. 120-122.
  11. Anyangwe SC, Mtonga C. Inequities in the global health workforce: the greatest impediment to health in sub-Saharan Africa. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2007;4(2):93-100. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph2007040002
  12. World Health Organization. The world health report 2006: working together for health [cited 2021 Jul 1]. Available from: https://www.who.int/whr/2006/whr06_en.pdf.
  13. Keshavarz Z, Simbar M, Ramezankhani A, Alavi, MH. Factors influencing the behavior of female-workers in the reproductive age regarding breast and cervical cancer screening based on the integrated model of planned behavior and self-efficacy: a qualitative approach. J Sch Public Health Inst Public Health Res 2011;9(3):23-36 (Persian).
  14. Adekanle DA, Adeyemi AS, Olowookere SA, Akinleye CA. Health workers' knowledge on future vascular disease risk in women with pre-eclampsia in south western Nigeria. BMC Res Notes 2015;8:576. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13104-015-1553-6
  15. Dugan SA, Lange-Maia B, Karavolos K, Kazlauskaite R, Hollings CS, Avery E, et al. Design of a lifestyle intervention to slow menopause-related progression of intra-abdominal adipose tissue in women: the Women in the Southside Health and Fitness (WISHFIT) study. Contemp Clin Trials Commun 2016;4:74-83. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conctc.2016.07.002
  16. Wekker V, Huvinen E, van Dammen L, Rono K, Painter RC, Zwinderman AH, et al. Long-term effects of a preconception lifestyle intervention on cardiometabolic health of overweight and obese women. Eur J Public Health 2019;29(2):308-314. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/cky222
  17. Harris JR, Lichiello PA, Hannon PA. Workplace health promotion in Washington State. Prev Chronic Dis 2009;6(1):A29.
  18. Mo PK, Winnie WM. The influence of health promoting practices on the quality of life of community adults in Hong Kong. Soc Indic Res 2010;95(3):503-517. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-009-9523-9
  19. Kalroozi F, Pishgooie AH, Taheriyan A. Health-promoting behaviours in employed nurses in selected military hospitals. J Health Promot Manag 2015;4(2):7-15 (Persian).
  20. Woods N. Whose aid? Whose influence? China, emerging donors and the silent revolution in development assistance. Int Aff 2008;84(6):1205-1221. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2346.2008.00765.x
  21. Hempstead B, Green C, Briant KJ, Thompson B, Molina Y. Community empowerment partners (CEPs): a breast health education program for African-American women. J Community Health 2018;43(5):833-841. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-018-0490-4
  22. Masoodi R, Alhani F, Rabiei L, Majdinasab N, Moghaddasi J, Esmaeili SA, et al. The effect of family-centered empowerment model on quality of life and self efficacy of multiple sclerosis patients family care givers. Iran J Nurs Res 2013;7(27):32-43 (Persian).
  23. Robinson JL, Narasimhan M, Amin A, Morse S, Beres LK, Yeh PT, et al. Interventions to address unequal gender and power relations and improve self-efficacy and empowerment for sexual and reproductive health decision-making for women living with HIV: a systematic review. PLoS One 2017;12(8):e0180699. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0180699
  24. Alhani F. Design and evaluation of family centered model of empowerment in the prevention of iron deficiency anemic [dissertation]. Tehran: Tarbiat Modarres University; 2004 (Persian).
  25. Roshan SN, Navipor H, Alhani F. Effect of family-centered empowerment model (FCEM) on quality of life of mothers having teenagers with iron deficiency anemia. J Nurs Educ 2014;3(2):27-40.
  26. Vahedian-Azimi A, Alhani F, Goharimogaddam K, Madani SJ, Naderi A, Hajiesmaeili M. Effect of family-centered empowerment model on the quality of life in patients with myocardial infarction: a clinical trial study. J Nurs Educ 2015;4(11):8-21 (Persian).
  27. Sadeghi M, Pedram Razi SH, Nikbakht Nasrabadi A, Ebrahimi H, Kazemnejad A. Comparison of the impact of education based on the empowerrment model and family-center empowerrment model on knowledge and metabolic control of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. J Nurs Educ 2013;2(3):18-27 (Persian).
  28. Rajabi R, Sabzevari S, Borhani F, Haghdoost AA, Bazargan N. The effect of family-centered empowerment model on quality of life school age children with asthma. J Health Promot Manag 2013;2(4):7-15 (Persian). https://doi.org/10.4103/2277-9531.107932
  29. Ahmadi B, Farzadi F, Alimohammadian M. Women's health in Iran: issues and challenges. Payesh 2012;11(1):127-137 (Persian).
  30. Sehhatie F, Mirghafourvand M, Momeni K. Health promoting behaviors among postmenopausal women in Langroud city, Iran. Int J Womens Health Reprod Sci 2015;3(3):158-162 (Persian). https://doi.org/10.15296/ijwhr.2015.33
  31. Walker SN, Sechrist KR, Pender NJ. Health promotion modelinstruments to measure health promoting lifestyle: healthpromoting lifestyle profile [HPLP II] (adult version); 1995 [cited 2021 Jul 1]. Available from: https://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/handle/2027.42/85349.
  32. Brandstetter S, Ruter J, Curbach J, Loss J. A systematic review on empowerment for healthy nutrition in health promotion. Public Health Nutr 2015;18(17):3146-3154. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1368980015000270
  33. Mehta K, Dent C, Middleton G, Booth S. Personal development, wellbeing and empowerment gains for nutrition peer educators: a South Australian perspective. Health Promot Int 2020;35(5):1159-1167. https://doi.org/10.1093/heapro/daz099
  34. World Health Organization. Physical activity [cited 2021 Apr 1]. Available from: http://www.who.int/topics/physical_activity/en/.
  35. Hosseini M, Yaghmaei F, Hosseinzadeh S, Alavie Majd H, Sarbakhsh P, Tavousi M. Psychometric "health promotion lifestyle profile 2" the urban health center. Payesh 2013;11(6):849-856 (Persian).
  36. Safabakhsh L, Jahantigh M, Nosratzehi S, Navabi S. The effect of health promoting programs on patient's life style after coronary artery bypass graft-hospitalized in Shiraz hospitals. Glob J Health Sci 2015;8(5):154-159. https://doi.org/10.5539/gjhs.v8n5p154
  37. Hassani L, Alighias M, Ghanbarnejad A, Shahab-Jahanlu A, Gholamnia-Shirvani Z. Effect of educational intervention on health-promoting behaviors of high school students in Karaj city. J Prev Med 2015;2(1):62-69 (Persian).
  38. Borghei NS, Taghipour A, Latifnejad Roudsari RL, Keramat A. Development and validation of a new tool to measure Iranian pregnant women's empowerment. East Mediterr Health J 2015;21(12):897-905. https://doi.org/10.26719/2015.21.12.897