Abstract
Background and Objectives: Proper nutritional knowledge of women who organizing the nutritional policy of the family have a direct effect on the health of family members. This survey was designed to assess the nutritional knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) among female employees of Tabriz University of Medical sciences and the efficacy of educational intervention on modifying these variables.
Methods and Materials: This interventional study was performed on 447 female employees of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences. At the beginning of study Nutritional knowledge, attitude and practice were assessed by using a questionnaire. Educational intervention consisted of two hours lecture session and on educational booklet about the essentials of healthy eating. After two months, the efficacy of the intervention was assessed by the questionnaire which was used at the baseline. McNamara test and Cochran test were used for comparing the pre and post intervention measurements. Qualitative variables were compared with paired t-test.
Results: Before the intervention 82.7%, 16.5% and 0.8% of the subjects had good, moderate and poor nutritional knowledge respectively. After the intervention the rate of good, moderate and poor knowledge changed to 89%, 10.5% and 0.5% respectively. Before the intervention 29%, 62.2% and 8.95% of the subjects had good, moderate and poor nutritional attitude respectively. After the intervention the rate of good, moderate and poor attitude changed to 33.6%, 59.3% and 7.1% respectively. Before the intervention 17.2%, 25.1% and 57.7% of the subjects had good, moderate and poor nutritional practice. After the intervention the above percentages changed to 15.2%, 33.3% and 51.5% respectively. None of the aforementioned changes in knowledge, attitude and practice were significant.
Conclusion: Despised the good level of knowledge nutritional the level of practice was poor. One session of lecture and educational booklet were not effective to modifying the nutritional knowledge, attitude and Practice.