Abstract

Introduction: Diabetes is one of the most common metabolic disorders and the most prevalent medical condition in pregnancy. Gestational diabetes had adverse effects such as macrosomia, fetal abnormalities, birth defects, premature birth, unexplained stillbirth, and complications after birth. Diabetes is not curable, but it can be controlled. Dietary regimen is the first step in the management and treatment of diabetes. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of education based on health belief model on adherence to dietary regimen in pregnant women with gestational diabetes.

Materials and Methods: This semi-experimental study was conducted on 70 pregnant women with gestational diabetes in 2015. The samples were selected through convenience sampling and randomly divided into two groups. The data collection tool was a researcher-made questionnaire that was completed in two stages of pre- and post-intervention. The obtained data was analyzed using SPSS.

Results: In the experimental group, the mean scores of awareness and components of health belief model significantly increased after the intervention (P<0.001). The mean performance score significantly increased after training (P<0.001).

Conclusion: This model has increased the perception of risk and benefits of behavioral change in pregnant women, which can eliminate obstacles and improve their performance regarding nutrition.