The purpose of this study was to determine the nature of the relationships among health locus of control, health beliefs and family planning behavior among Middle Eastern women living temporarily in the United States. A correlational descriptive design was used. A convenience sample of 80 Middle Eastern women were chosen as representatives for this study from the University of Arizona Family Housing, Tucson Islamic Center, Saudi Arabian Student Club, and the University of Arizona International Student Center. Four instruments were utilized to collect data: (1) Health Locus of Control Scale, (2) Modified Health Belief Instrument, (3) Demographic/Preferences Data Tool, and (4) Family Planning Survey. Data analysis included use of descriptive statistics to summarize the differences between the two groups (adequate and inadequate contraceptive users) on each set of health belief variables, health locus of control variables and demographic/preferences variables. Significant findings on the health belief and health locus of control instruments, separately and together was followed by stepwise discriminant analysis to identify the variables on which the groups differ and the nature of the dimensions on which they differ. The study findings indicated that adequate contraceptive users perceived the seriousness of pregnancy and benefits of contraception, while inadequate contraceptive users perceived barriers of contraception. On the other hand adequate contraceptive users had self-control over health, belief in provider control over health, had less general health threat, and more health value than inadequate contraceptive users. Four variables in the health belief and health locus of control scales were included in a discriminant function analysis. This indicated that general health, self-control over health, barriers of contraception and seriousness of pregnancy variables fully differentiated the two groups.

As características biológicas e comportamentais relacionadas aos doentes de tuberculose (TB) são importantes aspectos a serem considerados quando se almeja a precocidade da detecção dos casos, uma vez que determinam a procura e utilização dos serviços de saúde. Este estudo teve como objetivo descrever os aspectos relacionados aos doentes de TB que interferem no tempo de procura por um serviço de saúde após a percepção do início dos sintomas da doença na cidade de São José do Rio Preto - SP. Trata-se de um estudo epidemiológico descritivo e exploratório, do tipo inquérito. Participaram do estudo 100 doentes de TB entrevistados por meio de um instrumento que contemplou questões sócio-demográficas, clínicas, econômicas e comportamentais dos doentes. A partir da questão relacionada ao tempo para proceder a procura por um serviço de saúde realizou-se o cálculo da mediana e, por meio do valor obtido, definiu-se o ponto de corte a partir do qual se considerou atraso na procura por atendimento. O tempo mediano decorrido entre a percepção do início dos sintomas da TB e a primeira procura por um serviço de saúde foi de 15 dias, sendo a Unidade de Pronto Atendimento (UPA) o principal serviço de saúde procurado. Houve predominância de doentes do sexo masculino. Encontrou-se atraso (>15 dias) entre homens e indivíduos com idade entre 50 a 59 anos que procuraram pelas UPA e entre mulheres e indivíduos cuja faixa etária estava entre 18 a 29 e maiores de 60 anos que optaram pelas Unidades de Atenção Básica (UAB). No que se refere ao estado civil, somente tiveram atraso doentes que se declararam divorciados/separados. Doentes sem escolaridade ou com EF incompleto, sem remuneração e que possuíam a forma pulmonar da TB atrasaram ao buscar UPA. Doentes com forma extrapulmonar da TB e em recidiva/retratamento atrasaram quando a busca por atendimento ocorreu nas UAB. Co-infectados foram mais rápidos ao buscar por atendimento nos serviços especializados. Demoraram para buscar pelo primeiro atendimento aqueles que relataram os sintomas ao início da doença como sendo de fracos a moderados. Houve atraso entre doentes que não fumavam e procuraram por UAB e UPA. Houve demora superior a 15 dias somente quando a procura por assistência entre os doentes consumidores de bebidas alcoólicas ocorreu nas UAB. Tiveram retardo doentes com conhecimento precário que procuraram as UAB e aqueles com conhecimento satisfatório que optaram pelas UPA. A maioria dos doentes deste estudo tinham o hábito de procurar pelos serviços mais próximos do domicílio antes do diagnóstico da TB e não atrasaram ao buscar por atendimento em UAB e serviços especializados. Levanta-se a necessidade de maior atenção por parte da equipe dos serviços de saúde quanto às caracteristicas do perfil dos usuários que tiveram atraso na busca por atendimento. O reconhecimento dessas características e do padrão de utilização dos serviços de saúde é primordial para o planejamento em saúde e definição de estratégias que favoreçam a busca por atendimento entre os usuários em menor tempo, de modo a possibilitar o diagnóstico precoce da TB pelos serviços de saúde. / The biological and behavioral characteristics related to patients with tuberculosis (TB) are important aspects to be considered when the early detection of cases of the disease is aimed, since they seem to play an important role in demand and utilization of health services patterns. This study aimed to describe the aspects related to TB patients that affect time to search for a health facility after the perception of the onset of disease symptoms in Sao Jose do Rio Preto - SP. An epidemiological study, descriptive and exploratory type of investigation were conducted including 100 TB patients, who were interviewed by an instrument that included socio-demographic, clinical, economic and behavioral characteristics. From the issue related to time to search for a health service the median was calculated, and half the value obtained, we defined the cutoff point from which delay in seeking treatment was considered. The median time between the perception of TB symptoms\' onset and the first demand for a health service was 15 days, being the Emergency Unit (EU) the main health service sought. There was a predominance of male patients. A delay was found (> 15 days) among men and those with age from 50 to 59 years who sought first a EU and among women and those with age between 18 to 29, as well as seniors over 60, who opted for searching first a Primary Care Unit (PHU). Regarding to marital status, in general, only patients who declared themselves as divorced/separated had shown delay. Patients without education or with incomplete level of formation, without remuneration and who presented the TB pulmonary form seek the EU with delay. Patients with extrapulmonary TB and relapse/retreatment delayed when searching for treatment occurred in the PHU. Co-infection patients seek faster care at specialized services. Those who reported the symptoms of the disease as being low to moderate showed longer time to search. Patients who didn´t smoke and looked for PHU and EU also present delayed. Among patients who consumed alcohol, delay was greater than 15 days when demand for care occurred at UAB. Those who present poor knowledge and sought PHU and those with satisfactory knowledge that opted for the EU also showed longer delays. Most patients in this study were used to seek services closer to their homes before the diagnosis of TB and did not delay in seeking care at PHU and specialized services. Need for greater focus by the team of health services regarding the characteristics of the profile of users who have had to seek delays for care is raised. Recognition of patient\'s characteristics and health services\' utilization patterns, in their different ways of organizing and delivering assistance is central to health planning and developing strategies to promote the search for treatment among users in less time, in order to enable early diagnosis of TB at health services.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2003. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 203-217).

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karolinska institutet, 2007. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karol. inst., 2003. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Linköping : Linköpings universitet, 2006. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Thesis (M.P.H.M. (Primary Health Care Management))- - Mahidol University, 2005.

Thesis (M.P.H.M. (Primary Health Care Management))--Mahidol University, 2008. / LICL has E-Thesis 0039 ; please contact computer services.

Thesis (D.P.H.)--University of Alabama at Birmingham, 2009. / Title from first page of PDF file (viewed on June 8, 2009). Includes bibliographical references (p. 184-202).

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Michigan, 1986.