The Relation Between Decisional Balance and Self-Efficacy with Fruits and Vegetables Consumption Among a Sample of Women in Bandar Abbas, Iran

Background: Consumption of fruits and vegetables improve health and prevent chronic diseases. Objectives: This study aimed to survey the relation between decisional balance and self-efficacy with fruits and vegetables consumption among a sample of women in Bandar Abbas, Iran. Methods: In this study, 383 women who referred to seven health centers in Bandar Abbas were selected through a stratified sampling method. A valid and reliable questionnaire including the constructs of the transtheoretical model and fruits and vegetables consumption was used to collect data. SPSS version 19.0 was used to analyze the data running one-way ANOVA and linear trend analysis. Results: Analysis of consuming two services or more fruits a day indicated that the majority of women (58%) were at the maintenance stage and the minority (4.2%) at the contemplation stage. Moreover, the majority of subjects (55.6%) were found to be at the maintenance stage of consuming 200 g or more vegetables a day, while the minority (3.7%) were at the contemplation stage. Significant relations were found between the stages of change to consume more fruits and vegetables and such constructs as decisional balance and self-efficacy P < 0.05). Conclusions: According to the results, in designing interventions to increase the consumption of fruits and vegetables in housewives, it is necessary to emphasize increasing the decisional balance and self-efficacy.