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. 2013 Aug 12;8(8):e72087. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0072087

Table 1. Operational definition of constructs used to examine factors that predict intention of caregivers to give cowpeas to their schoolchildren.

Construct Operational definition
Knowledge The caregiver’s knowledge about the relationship between cowpeas and health, and specifically to malnutrition and iron-deficiency anaemia
Perceived susceptibility The caregiver’s subjective perception of her schoolchild being malnourished and anaemic
Perceived severity The caregiver’s feelings concerning the seriousness of her schoolchild being malnourished and anaemic
Health value The importance caregiver places on the consequences of her schoolchild being malnourished and anaemic
Health behaviour identity The caregiver’s opinion of the expected consequence of giving cowpeas to the schoolchild
Attitudes towards behaviour Favourable or unfavourable disposition of the caregiver towards giving cowpeas to the schoolchild
Perceived barriers The caregiver’s beliefs about costs or negative aspects of cowpea consumption by the schoolchild
Cues to action Triggers that stimulate the caregiver to give cowpeas to her school child.
Subjective norms The caregiver’s perceived social pressure to give or not to give the schoolchild cowpeas (who is important for the behaviour and is the opinion of that person important?)
External control belief The caregiver’s perceived presence of factors that may facilitate or impede giving cowpeas to the schoolchild
Behavioural intention The caregiver’s readiness to give cowpeas to the schoolchild
Behaviour Giving cowpeas to the schoolchild