Background and Aim: Lack of information on how to protect and prevent cutaneos leishmaniasis plays an important role in the susceptibility to the disease. Therefore, preventive measures will be effective if the parents have awareness about the disease. This study was aimed to invetigate the effects of educational interventions on mother’s knowledge and attitude towards cutaneous leishmaniasis.
Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, 120 married women who were 15 years of age or older and were referred to Ab-o-Bargh Health Center in Mashhad were recruited. The participants were divided into three groups: participation in an educational lecture, participation in an educational group discussion session, and a control, non-intervention group. A researcher-developed questionnaire including questions on demographic data, and developed knowledge and attitude towards cutaneous leishmaniasis were used for data gathering. The evaluation of educational intervention effects were assessed before, immediately after the interventions, and one month after the educational interventions.
Results: Before the intervention, there was no significant difference in the mean of awareness scores between the three groups (P=0.71). However, there was a significant difference in awareness scores between the three groups immediately after the intervention. The observed scores did not change significantly after one month (P=0.001). Also, there was there was a significant difference in the rate of attitude score towards cutaneous leishmaniasis after the intervention between three groups (P=0.001).
Conclusion: Individual and group educational interventions regarding cutaneous leishmaniasis were effective to increase the knowledge and improve the attitude of the participants towards the disease. We recommend to apply effective educational interventions like group discussions to improve the mothers' knowledge and their insights about cutaneous leishmaniasis.
