The effects of educational intervention designed based on Trans-theoretical model, on food security score, anthropometric indices and body composition of women of Sardrood

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Ensuring food security for the population is one of the major goals of socio-economic development planning; therefore implementation of training sessions aimed at empowering women to manage limited financial resources seems to be nessesery. The aim of this study was to provide a solution to improve the food security, anthropometric indices and body composition through the design and implementation of educational intervention based on TTM in sardrood. Materials and Methods: Present study was a controlled educational intervention which was conducted in 2016-2017 in the city of Sardrood, Tabriz, Iran. The first stage was a cross-sectional descriptive study to determine the food insecurity of the household, measure the anthropometric indices and body composition, as well as assess and determine the stages of behavior change on 192 persons. The second stage was interventively, on 160 persons in 5 sessions of training in each participant was designed and implemented. Measures were repeated 3 and 6 months after the intervention, and the initial questionnaires were completed again to assess the secondary implications of intervention (food security, anthropometric indices and body composition). The results of the post-test were compared using appropriate statistical methods with pre-test results. Results: Initial results of this study showed that 28.7% of participants were with high food security (HFS), 26.6% with marginaly food security (MFS), 33% with low food security (LFS) and 11.7% with very low food security (VLFS). Three-quarters of those who were in the inactive stages of change had experienced some degree of food insecurity. But, after implementing the educational theory-based intervention, a significant decrease in the percentage of food insecurity in the intervention group was observed, so the percentage of people with high food security (HFS) in the intervention group after 3 and 6 months increased to 47.9 and 41.1%, respectively. These changes were significant at different times and groups (Ptime = 0.01 and Pgroup = 0.009). In the intervention group after 6 months of training, the average weight was reduced from 73.61 to 72.32 kg( Ptime = 0.27, Pgroup = 0.42 and P time . group ˂ 0.001), the average waist circumference (WC) was reduced from 101.22 to 97.74 cm (P time = 0.07, P group = 0.84 and P time. group = 0.004), the average body mass index (BMI) ranged from 30.57 to 30.03 (P time = 0.007, P group = 0.61 and P time . group ˂ 0.001) and the average body fat percentage (FM) was reduced from 44.27% to 42.93% (P time ˂ 0.001 and P time . group ˂ 0.001). Also, the mean total body water (TBW) was slightly increased from 44.30 to 44.53 percent (P time = 0.01, P group = 0.41, P time. group = 0.005). Conclusions: Knowledge and nutritional information of women in promoting food security, overcoming obesity and overweight have positive outcomes for the household. Consequently, given the increasing prevalence of food insecurity and the key role that women play in promoting proper nutrition in the family, the need to implement community-based educational interventions aimed at empowering women to manage limited financial resources to enhance food security, improve anthropometric indicators and body composition among people, especially The vulnerable groups of society are increasingly felt.