Background: Pro-environmental behaviors are critical to sustainable development and directly influence quality of life at the individual and family levels. This study aimed to design, implement, and evaluate an intervention based on the PRECEDE-PROCEED model to promote waste segregation at source behaviors among female heads of households in Rafsanjan, Iran, in 2021.
Methods: Following the first three phases of the PRECEDE-PROCEED model, key behavioral determinants were identified. Waste segregation at source emerged as the most influential behavior, with predisposing, enabling, and reinforcing factors central to change. A researcher-developed and validated tool was used to assess these variables. In this quasi-experimental study, 120 female heads of households were selected using multistage cluster random sampling and assigned equally to the intervention and control groups. The intervention group received a four-week virtual educational program delivered via WhatsApp. A post-test was conducted two months later. The data were analyzed by SPSS version 18, using descriptive statistics, Chi-square, paired t-test, independent t-test, and ANCOVA at the significance level of 0.05.
Results: Post-intervention analysis revealed significant improvements in the intervention group in predisposing, enabling, and reinforcing factors, as well as in waste segregation at source behavior (P < 0.001). ANCOVA, adjusted for baseline scores and employment status, confirmed significant between-group differences in all measured variables except enabling factors (P = 0.079).
Conclusion: The intervention positively affected key behavioral constructs and improved waste segregation practices. Nevertheless, sustaining these behaviors may require additional structural support—such as municipal provision of necessary equipment and facilities—to overcome enabling barriers.