A Study to assess the Effectiveness of Child-To-Child Teaching Programme on Prevention of Hookworm Infestation among School Children in a Selected Rural Government School in Mysuru District Karnataka
Mr. Praveen Kumar S.N1, Mrs. Ambika K2, Prof. Sheela Williams3
1M.Sc. Nursing Student, Pediatric Nursing, JSS College of Nursing, Mysuru
2Assistant Professor & HOD of Pediatric Nursing, JSS College of Nursing, Mysuru
3Principal cum Professor and HOD, JSS College of Nursing, Mysuru
*Corresponding Author Email: ambikasath@gmail.com
ABSTRACT:
Background: Worm infestation is a common childhood problem, which affects growth and development of children and has a close relationship with the socio demographic and ecological factors like poverty, illiteracy, poor personal and environmental hygiene. Parasite infestation with roundworm, hookworm and pinworm are the sources of severe morbidity in children as well as adults.
Aim: The aim of the present study was to assess the effectiveness of child-to-child teaching programme on prevention of hookworm infestation among school children in a selected rural government school in Mysuru district, Karnataka.
Methods: A Pre-experimental One group pre test post test design was used and 50 school children were selected using Probability random sampling technique. Data were collected using a structured knowledge questionnaire. A child-to-child teaching programme was conducted for school children. The data were collected and analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics.
Result: The results of the study revealed that the significance of difference between the mean pre test and mean post test knowledge scores which was statistically tested using paired ‘t’ test and it was found to be significant at 0.05 level of significance ‘t’= 26.7, p<0.05 and The results also depicted that knowledge of school children regarding prevention of hookworm infestation had partially association with their selected personal variables.
Conclusion: It was concluded that child-to-child teaching programme was effective in increasing the knowledge of school children regarding prevention of hookworm infestation among school children. Therefore the study recommends that, it is essential to organize health campaigns and child-to-child teaching programmes to enhance the knowledge regarding prevention of hookworm infestation among school children.
KEYWORDS: Hookworm infestation, Effectiveness, school children, Knowledge, child-to-child teaching programme.
INTRODUCTION:
A child (plural: children) is a human being between the stages of birth and puberty1. Child is a precious gift which has lots of potential within, which can be the best resource for nation if raised and moulded in good manner. Healthy children can become healthy citizen constituting a healthy nation. Healthy children are also successful learners2.
The Census of India considers children to be any person below the age of 14 and biologically childhood is the stage between infancy and adulthood. India with 1.21 billion people constitutes as the second most popular country in the world, while children represents 39% of total population of the country. About 29 % constitutes children in the age between 0-5 years, 28% constitutes children in the age between 610 years, 27% constitutes children in the age between 11-15 years and 16% constitutes children in the age between 16-18 years. About 73% of children living in rural area and 27% of children living in urban area3.
Worm infestation is a common childhood problem which affects growth and development of children and has a close relationship with the socio demographic and ecological factors like poverty, illiteracy, poor personal and environmental hygiene. Parasite infestation with roundworm, hookworm and pinworm are the sources of severe morbidity in children as well as adults. Intestinal infection constitutes global health burden. Worm infestation is one of the common problems in school children. It is a major cause of childhood malnutrition, anaemia, stunted physical and mental growth, psycho-social problems. It also causes recurrent gastrointestinal and respiratory tract infection contributing to high morbidity and mortality in children4.
NEED FOR STUDY:
School children are the single greatest readily available in providing the ideal opportunity for achieving a brighter healthy future. Children between the ages of five - seventeen years are school children. About 30 percent of the population is comprised of this age group. Children spend most of their time during the day in the school. They are exposed to varied environmental factors within the school. Each child interacts differently to these factors depending upon his/ her biological factors, socio-cultural and economic background etc and may develop some health problem which may impede health and learning activities5.
Approximately two billion people are infected with soil-transmitted helminths worldwide. Over 270 million preschool-age children and over 600 million school-age children live in areas where these parasites are intensively transmitted, and are in need of treatment and preventive interventions. According to World Health Organisation (WHO), globally there are 1221–1472 million cases of Ascariasis, 750–1050 million cases of Trichuriasis and 740–1300 million cases of hookworm infestation6. India carries the highest burden of worm infestation and 64 per cent of Indian population less than 14 years of age are at risk of Soil Transmitted Helminths (STH) or worms’ infestation (WHO). To assess the exact burden of STH or worms in India, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has appointed National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) as a nodal agency to conduct nationwide STH mapping. NCDC in partnership with other agencies has done STH mapping across the country. The data show varied prevalence range from 85% in Tamil Nadu to 12.5 % in Madhya Pradesh and 20% - 50 % in Karnataka during 20157.
OBJECTIVES:
1. To assess the level of knowledge of school children regarding prevention of hookworm infestation using structured knowledge questionnaire.
2. To assess the effectiveness of child-to-child teaching programme on knowledge of school children regarding prevention of hookworm infestation
3. To find the association between level of knowledge of school children regarding prevention of hookworm infestation and their selected personal variables of school children
HYPOTHESIS:
H1:
The mean post test knowledge scores of school children regarding prevention of hookworm infestation will be significantly higher than their mean pre test knowledge score.
H2:
There will be significant association between level of knowledge of school children and their selected personal variables.
METHODOLOGY:
RESEARCH APPROACH/DESIGN:
The research design selected for this study was Pre-experimental - One group pre test post test design.
VARIABLES UNDER STUDY:
1. Independent variable:
Child-to-child teaching programme regarding prevention of hookworm infestation.
2. Dependent variable:
Knowledge of school children regarding prevention of hookworm infestation
3. Selected personal variables:
Age, gender, class of study, family income, type of family, toilet facility and previous knowledge.
SETTING OF THE STUDY:
The study is conducted in selected rural Government school at Mysuru District i.e., Government primary school, Sutturu, Mysuru District. Karnataka.
POPULATION:
Population consists of school children in selected rural Government schools of Mysuru. District.
SAMPLE AND SAMPLING:
The sample of present study comprises of school children in selected rural government school of Mysuru District. 50 school children were selected in experimental group.
SAMPLING TECHNIQUE:
Probability random sampling technique is used in the present study.
SAMPLING CRITERIA:
Inclusion criteria:
School children who are:
1. Studying in V, VI and VII standard of a selected rural government school at Mysuru District.
2. Available during the period of data collection.
3. Willing to participate in study.
Exclusion Criteria:
School children who are sick at the time of data collection
RESULTS:
Section I. Description of selected personal variables of study
TABLE 1. Frequency and percentage distribution of school children according to their selected personal variables n=50
|
Sl. no |
Sample characteristics |
Frequency (f) |
Percentage (%) |
|
1 |
Age(in years) |
|
|
|
|
11 |
21 |
42% |
|
|
12 |
15 |
30% |
|
|
13 |
13 |
26% |
|
|
14 |
1 |
2% |
|
2 |
Gender |
|
|
|
|
2.1 Male |
24 |
48% |
|
|
2.2 Female |
26 |
52% |
|
3 |
Class of study |
|
|
|
|
3.1 5th standard |
9 |
18% |
|
|
3.2 6th standard |
20 |
40% |
|
|
3.3 7th standard |
21 |
42% |
|
4 |
Type of family |
|
|
|
|
4.1 Joint family |
16 |
32% |
|
|
4.2 Nuclear family |
34 |
68% |
|
5 |
Family income per month(in rupees) |
|
|
|
|
5.1 < 4000 |
25 |
50% |
|
|
5.2 4001-6000 |
9 |
18% |
|
|
5.3 6001-8000 |
7 |
14% |
|
|
5.4 >8000 |
9 |
18% |
|
6 |
Do you have toilet facility at home? |
|
|
|
|
6.1 Yes |
27 |
54% |
|
|
6.2 No |
23 |
46% |
|
7 |
Previous exposure to health education regarding prevention of hookworm infestation |
|
|
|
|
7.1 Yes |
2 |
4% |
|
|
7.2 No |
48 |
96% |
The data presented in Table 1 shows that, majority 21(42%) school children were in the age group of 11 years, majority 26(52%) school children were females, majority 21(42%) school children were in seventh standard, majority 34(68%) school children belonged to nuclear family, majority 25(50%) school children had their family income < 4000 per month, majority 27(54%) school children had toilet facility and majority 48(96%) had no previous exposure to health education
Section II. Effectiveness of child-to-child teaching programme regarding prevention of hookworm infestation among school children.
TABLE 2. Frequency and percentage distribution of level of knowledge of school children according to their pre test and post test scores. n=50
|
Knowledge level |
Pre test f(%) |
Post test f(%) |
|
Poor knowledge(0-11) |
43 (86%) |
-- |
|
Average knowledge(12-17) |
7(14%) |
17(34%) |
|
Good knowledge(18-22) |
-- |
33(66%) |
It is evident from Table 2 that, majority 43(86%) of the school children had poor knowledge and seven (14%) school children had average knowledge regarding prevention of hookworm infestation in the pre test. Where as in post test, majority 33(66%) of them had good knowledge and 17(34%) of them had average knowledge.
TABLE 3. Mean, Median, Standard deviation and Range of pretest and posttest knowledge score of school children n=50
|
Test |
Mean |
Median |
Range |
SD |
|
Pre test |
8.6 |
9 |
3-14 |
±2.72 |
|
Post test |
17.9 |
18.5 |
12-22 |
±2.36 |
The data presented in Table 3 shows that, the mean pre test knowledge score is 8.6 with standard deviation of ±2.72 and ranged from 3-14 and the mean post test knowledge score is 17.9 with the standard deviation of ±2.36 and ranged from 12-22. This indicates that there was an increase in mean knowledge scores of school children after the child-to-child teaching programme.
TABLE 4. Mean, mean difference, standard deviation difference, standard error and paired ‘t’ value of pretest and post test knowledge scores of school children. n=50
|
Knowledge scores |
Mean |
Mean Difference |
S.D. Difference |
Standard Error |
Paired ‘t’ test value |
|
Pre-test |
8.6 |
9.3 |
±2.44 |
.34 |
26.7* |
|
Post-test |
17.9 |
t(49)=1.671; p<0.05* significant.
The data presented in the Table 4 shows that the mean difference between knowledge pre test score and post test score is 9.3. To find the significant difference in mean knowledge scores, paired‘t’ test was computed and obtained value of paired ‘t’= 26.7, p<0.05 is found to be significant. Hence the null hypothesis is not accepted.
It is inferred that there is significant improvement of knowledge after child-to-child teaching programme.
Section III. Association between the knowledge and selected personal variables of school children.
TABLE 5. Chi-square values between level of knowledge of school children and their selected personal variables n=50
|
Sl. no |
Sample characteristics |
Poor knowledge |
Average and Good knowledge |
Chi-squire value |
|
1 |
Age in years 1.1 11-12 1.2 13-14 |
30 14 |
5 1 |
1.524# |
|
2 |
Gender 2.1 Male 2.2 Female |
23 20 |
1 6 |
2.302# |
|
3 |
Class of study 3.1 5th standard 3.2 6th&7th standard |
6 37 |
3 4 |
5.646*# |
|
4 |
Type of family 4.1 Joint family 4.2 Nuclear family |
14 29 |
2 5 |
0.051# |
|
5 |
Family income per month(in rupees) 5.1 <8000 5.2>8000 |
34 7 |
7 2 |
0.013# |
|
6 |
Do you have toilet facility at home? 6.1 yes 6.2 no |
22 21 |
5 2 |
1.978# |
|
7 |
Previous exposure to health education regarding prevention of hookworm infestation 7.1 yes 7.2 no |
1 42 |
1 6 |
6.438*# |
χ2(1)=3.84; p>0.05, p<0.05 *- significant, # = Yates correction.
The data presented in table 5 shows that, there was no statistically significant association between the level of knowledge of the school children with their selected personal variables except for class of study and previous knowledge of school children. Hence, the null hypothesisis partially accepted and it is inferred that level of knowledge of school children regarding prevention of hookworm infestation among school children is not influenced by their selected personal variables.
LIMITATIONS:
The limitations of the present study were,
1. The study is limited to school children in selected rural schools in Mysuru.
2. The sample size is only 50 school children; hence this limits the generalization of findings beyond the study samples.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
1. Similar study can be carried out on a larger sample for broader generalization.
2. A comparative study can be performed about assessing knowledge among rural and urban school children.
3. A similar study can be conducted by adopting true experimental design.
4. A descriptive survey can be done to find out the prevalence of hook worm infestation.
CONCLUSION:
The findings of the present study concluded that in pretest, all the school children had poor knowledge regarding prevention of hookworm infestation. The child-to-child teaching programme was effective in increasing the knowledge regarding prevention of hookworm infestation as the computed paired‘t’= 26.7, p<0.05 is found to be significant at 0.05 level of significance. There was partially significant association between the pre-test levels of knowledge of school children with their selected personal variables.
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Received on 07.09.2017 Modified on 29.10.2017
Accepted on 28.11.2017 ©A&V Publications All right reserved
Asian J. Nursing Education and Research. 2018; 8(1): 69-72.
DOI: 10.5958/2349-2996.2018.00016.2