Using health education theories to explain behavior change: a cross-country analysis. 2000-2001.
Scholars within the fields of public health, health education, health promotion, and health communication look to specific theories to explain health behavior change. The purpose of this article is to critically compare four health theories and key variables within them with regard to behavior change in the area of reproductive health. Using cross-country analyses of Ghana, Nepal, and Nicaragua (data sets provided by the Center for Communication Programs, Johns Hopkins University), the authors looked at the Health Belief Model, Theory of Reasoned Action, Extended Parallel Process Model, and Social Cognitive Theory for these two defined objectives. Results show that all four theories provide an excellent fit to the data, but that certain variables within them may have particular value for understanding specific aspects of behavior change. Recommendations for the selection of theories to use as guidelines in the design and evaluation of reproductive health programs are provided.
The Ohio State University, OH, USA.
Lisa
L
Murray-Johnson
Kim
K
Witte
Marc
M
Boulay
Maria Elena
ME
Figueroa
Douglas
D
Storey
Ian
I
Tweedie
D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000193:education; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D005869:Ghana; D015438:Health Behavior; D006266:Health Education / Q000266:history / Q000379:methods*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D017145:Models, Educational; D009390:Nepal; D009527:Nicaragua; D011582:Psychological Theory; D011588:Psychology, Educational; D043762:Reproductive Behavior / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology