Behavioral intention and factors influencing intention of Ethiopian mothers to expose infants to sunshine

Abstract

Abstract Background: Nutritional rickets is common among Ethiopian children. It contributes to infant mortality and morbidity and carries long-term consequences. Factors influencing caretaker behavior of exposing infants to sunshine, a simple preventive strategy, are not fully understood. Objectives: To measure the intention of Ethiopian mothers to expose their infants to sunshine and determine which of the Triandis variables (perceived consequences, affect, social factors) are associated with this behavioral intention of mothers. Methods: The study was conducted in the Ethio-Swedish Children Hospital in Addis Ababa in April 1999. It involved 378 mothers of children who were selected by systematic random sampling. A pre-tested, structured and pre-coded questionnaire consisting 8-items for each subscale of variables in the Triandis Model (intention = value of perceived consequences of behavior + affect toward behavior + social factors) and selected socio-demographic variables was used to collect data. Results: Perceived consequences, maternal marital status, and grand mothers role are independently and strongly associated (p < 0.001) with maternal intention. The final model explains 68%, a significant proportion (p < 0.0001), of the variability in intention. Maternal age, ethnicity, literacy level, employment status, and family size and income were not statistically significantly associated with this behavioral intention. Conclusions: More comprehensive epidemiological studies on social, cultural, and psychological determinants of this risk behavior among Ethiopian mothers will be required. In the meantime, data from the present study can be used in developing health messages to mothers in Addis Ababa and other urban areas in the country. [Ethiop. J. Health Dev. 2002;16(1):31-40]