Knowledge on road safety measures among school children in selected schools, Kottayam.

Ms. Anujalekshmi V L¹, Mrs. Anju Philip²

¹Second Year M.Sc Nursing Student, Amrita College of Nursing,.

²Assistant Professor, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Amrita College of Nursing, AIMS, Kochi.

*Corresponding Author’s Email: anujalekshmi@gmail.com

ABSTRACT:

Road safety measures are the methods and measures that are issued to reduce risks of injury, death and harm to drivers, passengers and pedestrians.¹ The aim of road safety is to convey information to road users so as to enhance their knowledge on road safety measures, influence their behavior and or prepare them for new safety measures. As adults, we are responsible for young children’s safety around traffic whether they are pedestrians or passengers.² The aim of the study is to assess the level of knowledge among school children regarding road safety measures and also to find out the association between level of knowledge regarding road safety measures and selected demographic variables.

Using quantitative research approach, descriptive design was used from a total of 100 school children were selected by probability lottery sampling technique from eighth and ninth standards of selected school in Kottayam. Self developed semi structured knowledge questionnaire was used to collect data from school children. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data.

Among 100 school children, 52% of them are pedestrians, 28% of school children uses motor vehicles, 18% uses school bus and only 2% uses cycle as mode of transport. The study result showed that 53% had average knowledge level, 45% had good knowledge and only 2% of the school children had poor knowledge regarding road safety measures. Study findings denoted that there is significant association found between the gender and mode of transport to the school and knowledge regarding road safety measures.

Road traffic accidents are one of the main causes of death and injury to children of school age.³From the above study findings it was revealed that the school children are aware of road safety measures and had adequate knowledge regarding the road safety measures.

KEYWORDS: Road safety measures, School children, Knowledge.

INTRODUCTION:

The World Health Day 2004 focused on road and the message given to public is “Road safety is no accident”.⁵ Actions can be taken to prevent these deaths and disabilities, and the immense loss and suffering due to road accidents.⁶

According to World Health Organisation, nearly 1.18 million people lost their lives every year due to road accidents. About 70% of these deaths occur in developing countries, 65 % of death involves pedestrians and 35% of pedestrian death in children.⁷ Over 10 million are crippled or injured each year. It has been estimated that at least 6 million more will die and 60 million will be injured during the next 10 years in developing countries unless urgent action is taken. The vast majority of these occur in developing countries among pedestrians, cyclists, motor cyclists and users of public transport.⁸

By watching school children after their school timings walking as they like, getting shouting by vehicle drivers, passers – by, vendors, house wives, hence the need to educate the children regarding road safety measures was felt.⁹If the children are educated regarding the causes and prevention of road traffic accidents, rules and regulations for crossing the roads and signal lights, such type of accidents can be reduced to an extent. C K Priyanka Raj et al conducted a study on knowledge and behavioural patterns with regard to road safety among high school children in rural community in Tamil Nadu on 2011. A school based cross sectional questionnaire based study was conducted among 485 high school students in Anaichikuppam area of Villupuram district in Tamil Nadu. Only 33 (20.88%) students were using helmets while riding motorised two wheelers and 55 (11.34 %) school children had been involved in road related accidents in the past one year. Study revealed poor knowledge of traffic rules and unsafe traffic behaviours among the school children.¹⁰

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM:

Study to assess the knowledge on road safety measures among school children in selected schools, Kottayam.

OBJECTIVES:

· Assess the level of knowledge among school children regarding road safety measures.

· Find out the association between level of knowledge regarding road safety measures and selected demographic variables.

OPERATIONAL DEFINITIONS:

Knowledge :

In this study knowledge denotes the correct response of school children to the semi structured knowledge questionnaire on road safety measures.

School children:

It refers to children who undergo formal education and are in the age group of 12- 15 years of age studying in eighth and ninth standard.

Road safety measures:

It refers to the precautions taken by the school children to prevent road accidents while crossing or walking through the road.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Research approach:

Quantitative approach.

Research design:

Non experimental descriptive design.

Setting of the study:

The present study was conducted in S.V.R.V.N.S.S. Higher Secondary School, Kottayam. The researcher selected the children who are studying in eighth and ninth standard for conducting present study. Among the six divisions (both English and Malayalam) a total of 180 school children are studying.

Population:

Target population: All school children who are studying in selected school. Accessible population: All children who are studying in eighth and ninth standard in selected school at the time of data collection.

Sampling technique and Size:

Probability lottery sampling technique is used for the present study. Out of 180 children who are studying in eighth and ninth standard, through lottery method 100 school children were selected for conducting the study based on inclusion criteria.

Sample Selection Criteria:

Inclusion criteria:

The study include the school children who

1. Are studying in eighth and ninth standard.

2. Are available at the time of data collection.

Exclusion criteria:

The study excludes the school children who are absent on particular day.

DESCRIPTION OF THE TOOL:

Tool I: Semi structured knowledge questionnaire for school children regarding road safety measures.

Section A:

Socio demographic proforma which include age, sex, mode of transport, medium of instruction, residence, parent’s educational and occupational status, accompanied by whom and information about road safety measures.

Section B:

Semi structured knowledge questionnaire regarding road safety measures. It consists of thirty multiple choice questions. Each correct response by school children is awarded with one mark and wrong answer carries zero mark. The maximum score for knowledge regarding road safety measures was 30 and the interpretation is as follows:

· 21 – 30 – Good knowledge

· 11 – 20 – Average knowledge

· 0 – 10 – Poor knowledge

VALIDITY AND RELIABILITY OF THE TOOL:

The content validity of the tool was assessed by obtaining opinion from experts. The content validity index obtained was 0.85. Internal consistency of tool was calculated using split half method (Spearman–Brown Coefficient) and reliability was 0.752.

DATA COLLECTION PROCEDURE:

The investigator presented the problem statement before research committee and obtained prior permission from the concerned authority of Amrita College of Nursing. On the first day the researcher met the Principal of selected school and after obtaining permission meet the class coordinator of eighth and ninth standard. After establishing rapport with the school children an informed consent was taken and the researcher administered the tool to the school children.

DATA ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION:

The data obtained was tabulated, organized and analysed in terms of descriptive and inferential statistics.

RESULTS:

Among 100 school children, more than half 56% were in the age group of 14 years. Out of 100, 51% are males. 73% of school children having one sibling and 48% of them are first child in the family. Among 100 school children, 52% of them are pedestrians. Most of the fathers 73% completed their high school education and also 52% of mothers. Majority of the school children 94% got information regarding road safety measures from various sources and among that 25% of them got information from parents followed by 20% each from teachers, friends and media/ magazines. Most of the school children 68% were accompanied by friends while go to the school and 57% were ride bicycle on road. Based on the score obtained the knowledge of school children were categorized into good (21 – 30), average (11 – 20) and poor (0 – 10) and is presented in figure 1.

Distribution of school children based on knowledge regarding road safety measures

Table 1: Mean and standard deviation of the knowledge score (n=100)

Dimension

Maximum score

Mean

Range

Overall knowledge

regarding road

safety measures

20.14

3.315

8 - 28

Table 1 shows that the mean score of knowledge regarding road safety measures of school children as 20.14 with 3.315 as the standard deviation. The score ranged from 8 – 28.

Table 2: Mean and standard deviation based on knowledge on individual items on the knowledge questionnaire. (n=100)

Sl No.	Dimensions	Mean	Median	S.D	Range
1	Safety measures for walking	7.83	8.00	1.985	2 - 11
2	Safety measures for riding bicycle	4.76	5.00	1.084	2 - 7
3	Safety measures in motor vehicles	3.67	4.00	1.064	1 - 5
4	General measures	3.88	4.00	1.094	2 - 6

The data presented in the Table 3 shows that there is significant association found between the knowledge level regarding road safety measures and gender of school children. Among 100, 30 male school children had good knowledge (58.8%) and 33 female school children had average knowledge (67.3%) regarding road safety measures.

The data presented in the Table 4 shows that there is significant association between the knowledge level regarding road safety measures and mode of transport of school children to the school. Among 18 school children, who depends on school bus, 14 (77.8%) had average knowledge, 28 school children who depends on motor vehicles, 18 (64.3%) had good knowledge, 2 school children who depends on bicycle, 1 (50%) had average and good knowledge and among 52 school children who are pedestrians, 29 (55.8%) had average knowledge regarding road safety measures.

DISCUSSION:

The present study was undertaken to assess knowledge on road safety measures among school children in selected schools, Kottayam.

First objective of the study was to assess the level of knowledge among school children regarding road safety measures.

The present study result was found that more than half 53% had average knowledge level, 45% had good knowledge and 2% of the school children had poor knowledge regarding road safety measures.

The present study finding supported by Mirza H, Daud S conducted a study in 2012 to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice regarding road safety among peri urban school children in Lahore. A structured questionnaire was used to obtain data from 100 children. The knowledge level of study participants regarding road signs was considerably high especially in case of what do the traffic signal lights indicate (94%), not to horn (79%) zebra crossing (95%) and pedestrian prohibited (75%). Findings shows that 62% had average knowledge level, 29% had good knowledge and 9% of school children had poor knowledge regarding road safety measures.¹¹

The second objective of the study was to find out the association between level of knowledge regarding road safety measures and selected demographic variables.

The result of the present study shows that there was significant association between two demographic variables, gender of school children and mode of transport to the school and knowledge of school children regarding road safety measures.

A descriptive study conducted by Malik M, Pradhan K S, on association of road safety knowledge and risk behavior among school children, Delhi in 2007. In this study 200 school children were included. Findings shows that sex of the children and mode of transport are significantly influences and found association between road safety knowledge.

CONCLUSION:

The researcher conducted a study to assess the knowledge on road safety measures among school children in selected schools. Accidents are often due to ignorance, carelessness, thoughtlessness and over confidence. The consequence of accidents affects seriously the children health and growth, interferes their studies and future.

REFERENCES:

1. http://www.grsproadsafety.org/sites/grsp.drupalgardens.com/files/201304/PedestrianSafety_eng.pdf

2. Sheila Seda. Safeguarding our lives. The nursing journal of India; 2004 April; Vol II (4) 73.

3. Dr. Lee Jong Wook. World health day theme 2004. Road safety is no accident. The nursing journal of India 2004 April; Vol I (4) 64.

4. Infoplease the Columbia electronic encyclopedia.2012.Available from:URL: http://www.infoplease.com/encyclopedia/science/infancy.html.

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8. Advocates for youth Rights Respect Responsibility. 2000. Available from: URL: http://www.advocatesforyouth.org/road traffic rules and practices-home.

9. Tamis–Le Monda C, Shannon, Spellmann M. Adolescent knowledge about road safety measures. AM J Ntl. 2002;23,88–103. Available from : URL: http://www.theimhi.com/journals /article/65390765.

10. http://www.ijms.in/articles/2/2/study-of-knowledge-and-behavioural-patterns-with-regard-to-road-safety-among-high-school-children-in-a-rural-community-in-tamil-nadu-India.html.

11. Humayun Mirza, Seema Daud. Study of Knowledge, Attitude and Practice Regarding Road Safety among Peri-Urban School Children. http://pjmhsonline.com/JulySept2013/study_of _knowledge_attitude_practice.htm

Received on 18.08.2015 Modified on 03.09.2015

Int. J. Adv. Nur. Management 3(4): Oct. - Dec. 2015; Page 341-344

DOI: 10.5958/2454-2652.2015.00029.3

Variable	Knowledge level						Fisher’s value	P value
	Poor		Average		Good
Gender	f	(%)	f	(%)	f	(%)
Male	1	3	20	39.2	30	58.8	8.360	0.010
Female	1	2	33	67.3	15	30.6

Variable	Knowledge level						Fisher’s value	P value
Variable	Poor		Average		Good
Mode of transport	f	(%)	f	(%)	f	(%)
School bus	0	0	14	77.8	4	22.2	11.579	0.043
Motor vehicle	1	3.6	9	32.1	18	64.3
Cycle	0	0	1	50.0	1	50.0
Walking	1	1.9	29	55.8	22	42.3