A Study to Evaluate the Effectiveness of Structured Teaching Programme on Prevention of Worm Infestation among Mothers of Underfive Children in Selected Rural Area of Mehsana District, Gujarat

Rakesh Patidar

Principal, Government College of Nursing, Siddhpur, Gujarat

*Corresponding Author’s Email: rpatidar1980@gmail.com

ABSTRACT:

Objective: To assess the existing knowledge and attitude regarding worm infestation among mothers of under-five children. To evaluate the effectiveness of structured teaching programme regarding worm infestation. To find out the relationship between knowledge and attitude regarding worm infestation among mothers of under-five children. To determine association between knowledge and attitude regarding worm infestation with their selected demographic variables. Methods: Study was conducted using quasi experimental one group pretest, posttest design. Structured Knowledge questionnaire and three point likert scale was used to evaluate the baseline data, knowledge and attitude of mothers of under-five children. Data obtained was tabulated and analyzed in terms of objectives of the study, using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: Significant increase in knowledge was witnessed after the implementation of Structured Teaching Programme as evidenced by pre-test and post-test data analysis. Conclusion: The Structured Teaching Programme enhanced the knowledge of mothers of under-five children regarding prevention of worm infestations. This programme will help in the implementation of worm infestations topic in the students' curriculum and teachers training programme.

KEYWORDS: Worm infestations, mothers of under-five children, Structured Teaching Programme, Knowledge, Attitude.

INTRODUCTION:

"Today children are tomorrow's world"

Children are inheritance from the God. Every child has right to grow up in the healthy home, school and community. The future development of our children and of their world depends on their enjoyment of the health.

India is one of the developing country. In most of the developing countries worm infestation is the major health problem. In Indian society, it is a common cause of malnutrition, especially in rural areas where there is

practice of open field defecation. Helminthes or worms live as parasites in the human body bare a fundamental cause of human disease associated with health and nutrition problems beyond gastro intestinal tract disturbances.¹

India is a larger country with various forms of diversities. Current Indian population is 1.25 billion, of this 25% are children. Lack of knowledge on hygiene and malnutrition in general public has contributed largely to the failure of achievement of “health for all by 2000 A.D”. Even though under five mortality has come down to 93, morbidity is on the rise mainly due to malnutrition which is the major cause for under 5 mortality (UNICEF, 2002) .²

The underfive children health must be promoted and protected to become a good citizen. The mothers plays a major role in promoting the health of an underfive child. The mother is the first person to rear and supervise her child growth pattern from birth. The mother act as a police man to maintain and monitor her child growth and development, nutrition and health pattern.³

Many studies proved that educational programmes increases the knowledge of mothers regarding worm infestation. Providing educational information is the best method to prevent worm infestation, so the researcher selected the topic on worm infestation.

During the community postings the investigator observed the rural public was using open field defecation and community was not maintaining a proper environmental sanitation. The people were walking with bare foot and also they were not practicing hygienic measures like washing hands before and after defecating, not washing vegetables properly before using, drinking safe water and not using latrine facility. The investigator had seen many under five children with potbelly abdomen. The children were often suffering with abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, and malnutrition. The children were not able to maintain their health.^4,5

METHODS

The study was conducted using quasi experimental one group pretest, posttest design. The samples were selected for this study by adapting simple random sampling technique. Lottery method was used to select 200 samples. Totally 262 mothers, from that 200 mothers of under five children were selected randomly.

Figure: Diagrammatic Representation of Research Methodology

Statistical Analysis

The data were analyzed by using both the Descriptive and Inferential statistics. Demographic data were analyzed by using frequency and percentage distribution. Mean, Standard Deviation and paired 't' test were used to find the difference between pretest and posttest assessment scores of mothers of underfive children. Chi-square test was used to find the association between pre-test knowledge of mothers of under-five children and the selected demographic variables at 0.05 level of significance.

RESULTS:

The study findings are presented in sections as follows.

Section I: Data on demographic variables of worm infestation among mothers of underfive children.

Distribution of frequency and percentage of worm infestation according to demographic variables: Reveals that with regard to age of underfive mothers among children majority of mothers (52.%) of them belongs to 25-35 years Regarding child age, majority of children (58%) belongs to the age group of 2-3year, Regarding Mothers Education, majority of mothers education were (34%) had primary school education, Regarding mothers occupation, majority of the mothers 49 (98%) were house wives Regarding Religion, Majority of the mothers 49 (98% ) belongs to Hindu religion, 1 (2%) of them were Christen mothers. Regarding Family income, Majority of mothers 25(50%) had Rs.1000-3000 per month,

Section II: Data on assessment of knowledge and attitude regarding worm infestation among

mothers of underfive children

S. no.

Level of knowledge

Pre test

Post test

Adequate knowledge

Moderately adequate knowledge

Inadequate knowledge

148

It is inferred that among the mothers the majority of them had inadequate knowledge during their pre test and majority had adequate knowledge during their post test.

The level of attitude on worm infestation among mothers of underfive children. Out Of 200 mothers, in pre test none of them had favorable attitude. 36 (18%) had moderately favorable attitude, 164 (82%) had unfavorable attitude. In post test36 (18%) had favorable attitude, 164 (82%) had moderately favorable attitude and no one had unfavorable attitude.

Section III: data on effectiveness of structured teaching programme on worm infestation among mothers of under five children.

It is inferred that the structured teaching program regarding knowledge on worm infestation program was highly effective as mean value of data highly increase from pre test (9.38) to post test (15.56)

Section IV: Data on relationship between knowledge and attitude towards worm infestation among mothers of underfive children.

The correlation co-efficient between the knowledge and attitude on pre test score was 0.43 and post test was 0.67 which were positively correlated.

Section V: Data on association between the knowledge and attitude with their selected demographic variables.

The association between knowledge of mothers with their demographic variables like Age of the mother, child age, mothers education, income, mothers occupation, religion, know about worm infestation and except whom did you receive information. There was a significant association with the knowledge at 0.05 level

REFERENCES

1. K. Park, Preventive and Social Medicine, 20th ed. Jabalpur Banarsidas Bhanot Publishers 2013,498-501

2. Krishnan SA, Pani SP, P. Nalini. A comprehensive study of morbidity in school age children. Indian pediatrics. 2001; 38:1099-1017.

3. Ghai OP. Essential pediatrics. 4th edition. New Delhi, India: Interprint Publishers; 1996.

4. Luong T. De-worming school children and hygiene intervention. International Journal of Env. Health Research. 2003; 13: 153-159.

5. Cromptom D.W.T, Montresor Mc, Nesheim, Savioli L. Controlling disease due to helminth infections. Geneva: World Health Organization;2003.

Received on 07.09.2016 Modified on 21.10.2016

Int. J. Adv. Nur. Management. 2016; 4(4): 407-409.

DOI: 10.5958/2454-2652.2016.00090.1