Assessment of Practice regarding selected healthy habits among orphans

 

Mr. Sureshgouda S Patil¹*, Mr Praveen S. Pateel²

¹Associate Professor and HOD, Dept of Pediatric Nursing, BVVS Sajjalashree Inst. of Nursing Sciences, Navanagar Bagalkot, Karnataka

²Associate Professor and HOD of Nursing Foundation, BVVS Sajjalashree Inst. of Nursing Sciences, Navanagar Bagalkot, Karnataka

 

ABSTRACT:

It is not the physical pain that endangers orphans the most. It is the mental pain caused by stress from years and years of being neglected, pushed aside, disregarded, unloved, and made to feel undeserving, and in almost all cases, made to feel like a possession rather than an equal human being. Even more it is the lack of unconditional love, the right to be accepted as a child and to be loved as a child, no matter what you do is the most wounding¹. There are an estimated 153,000,000 orphans worldwide. All orphans are vulnerable and in need of help. Without assistance these orphans continue in the cycle of poverty, HIV/AIDS, trafficking, prostitution and slavery.² objective: The study was aimed to assess the practice of orphans regarding selected healthy habits like personal hygiene, Healthy eating, Physical exercise, Rest and Sleep. 100 orphans were selected by complete enumeration sampling technique, data gathered by structured observation for the period of one month in Ashrayadham Bagalkot Karnataka. Researcher used structured checklist to collect the data. The results revealed that 20% orphans had poor practice, whereas 36.67% good practice, following this 43.33% orphans had average practice scores and no orphan found in excellent practice category. Conclusion: 20% orphans had poor practice, and no orphan was found in excellent practice category. This necessitates some interventional programme to conduct for these children to improve their practice regarding healthy habits.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INTRODUCTION:

“When we fail to provide children with what they need to build a strong foundation for healthy and productive lives, we put our future prosperity and security at risk” (Harvard University, department of Child Development).¹

 

As a whole in the continent of Asia, the total orphan population forms a turgid number of 5,72,20,000 accounting to 5.8% of the total child population. India is home to 19% of the world’s children. Every year around 26 million children are born in the country and more than one third of the country’s population is below 18 years, which is approximately around 440 million (40%) of the total population in India. The total number of orphan children in India is estimated to be 2,32,46,000 in the year 2010 which accounts for 6.8% of the total child population.²

 

Parents are the primary caretakers and saviors of a child but woefully thousands of children have to lead their lives without parents, the later either being dead or incapable of bringing up their children, such section of the society is called as orphans.³

The purpose of an orphanage is to care for children who have no one to care for them. Usually, children whose parents are either incapable of caring for them or have died live with other relatives or friends, but in the event no suitable guardian is found, the children then become a ward of the state. The government becomes responsible for their well being. Orphanages are homes for these children, and under the traditional definition, many children would live in each orphanage.⁴

 

NEED FOR THE STUDY:

Children, the future of any country, constitute its vital national resource. It is therefore imperative that appropriate infrastructure and conditions for their growth and all round development are in place. Programmes, schemes, strategies and other measures targeting children must therefore provide congenial frame for their physical, psychological, cognitive and mental growth.⁵

 

An orphan is a child who has lost both parents through death. An orphan is a child below 18 years who has lost both adoptive or biological parents, and the one single parent if unmarried.⁵

 

Exercise and proper nutrition is the key to having a health child. Nutrition and exercise are important because it keeps people's bodies - and minds - healthy. Without both of these factors, we wouldn't be feeling or looking very good. Actually, there are so many reasons why exercise and good nutrition are good for people at every age, and it's a good time to teach children to develop healthy habits and see why it's cool to be fit!⁶

 

Sleeping Habits, The health, behavior, and academic performance of teenagers are suffering as a result of their sleep deprivation. According to parents' reports in the 1999 nationwide survey, "Sleep in America," sixty percent of children under the age of eighteen complained of being tired during the school day.⁷

 

Healthy habbits helps children to achieve optimal growth and development in all aspects like physical, mental, biological, social, psychological, and others.

 

MATERIAL AND METHODS:

The research approach was descriptive cross sectional design, with an objective to assess the practice of orphan children regarding selected healthy habits.  Target population in the present study is orphans aged between 4-18 years in Bagalkot District. Accessible population is Orphans in Ashrayadham, Pushpavati Shindhe Nagar Neeralakeri Bagalkot. 100 orphans were selected by complete enumeration sampling technique. Data gathered by structured observation for the period of one month in Ashrayadham Bagalkot Karnataka. Researcher used structured checklist to collect the data. Data analysis and interpretation was done by using descriptive and inferential statistics like frequency distribution, mean, median, percentage and chi square test.

 

RESULTS:

Description of demographic characteristics of orphans

 

Figure no 1 Distribution of study subjects according to age

 

 

Figure no2 Distribution of study subjects according to religion

 

 

Figure no 3 Distribution of study subjects according to educational status

 

 

Figure no 4 Distribution of study subjects according to age

 

 

 

 

Description of Practice of orphans:

Percentage distribution of orphans according to level of practice determines that out of 100 orphans, higher percentage 43.33% of orphans had average practice followed by 36.67% orphans with good practice, 20% had poor practice and No orphans had excellent and Very poor practice.

 

 

 

Table no 1 Percentage distribution of orphans according to level of practice

Levels of Practice	Number(f)	Percentage (%)
Excellent	00	00
Good	11	36.67
Average	13	43.33
Poor	06	20
Very poor	00	00

 

Table no  2; Association between Practice Scores and selected Socio Demographic Variables

Sl. No	Socio demographic variables	Df	Chi-square value	Table value	Level of significance	Association
1.	Age	1	0.14	3.84	P>0.05	No association
2.	Educational Status	1	5.89	3.84	P>0.05	Significant association
3.	Religion	1	0.36	3.84	P>0.05	No association
4.	Duration of stay in Ashrayadham	1	06.98	3.84	P<0.05	Significant association

 

 

 

Chi-square was calculated to find out the association between practice scores of orphans with their selected socio demographic variables by using contingency table.

 

Calculated Chi-square value is higher than table value (3.84) for socio demographic variables  educational status (c²= 5.89, P<0.05) and duration of stay in Ashrayadham (c²= 6.98, P<0.05), therefore hypothesis stating, there will be significant association between practice and socio-demographic variables   is accepted for these socio demographic variables and calculated chi-square value is lesser than table value  (3.84) for socio demographic variables age (c²=0.14 P>0.05), religion (c²=0.36, P>0.05), hence hypothesis stating, there will be significant association between practice and socio-demographic variables   is is rejected for these two variables.

 

CONCLUSION:

A healthy child can build a healthy nation. Children today are not involved in any healthy activities, especially they are not engaged in any outdoor games, they are sedentary and which is a leading cause for their disability and diseases. Healthy habits are much important in every child’s life to attain an optimal health.  Hence an interventional programme is necessary for these children to improve their knowledge and practice regarding healthy habits. 

 

 

REFERENCE:

1.        The integrated child protection scheme (ICPS). A centrally sponsored scheme of Govt-civil society partnership. Mapping India children: UNICEF 2004. www.wcd.nic.in/childprot

2.        Census of India 2010-11:childlineindia.org.in

3.        Dixit S, Chaudhary M, Singh A. Molluscum contagiosum and dental caries: A pertinent combination. J Indian soc pedod prev dent 2009:27:197-201.

4.        Elizabeth W Mwaniki and Makokha AN, Jomo Kenyatta university of agriculture and technology, Nairobi, Kenya, Mwaniki and Makokha, J Nutr Food Sci 2003,4:1

5.        Tizard, B and Rees J. (1975) the effect of early institutional rearing on the behaviour problems and affectional relationships of 4 years old children.  Journal of Child psychology and Psychiatry. 16. 61-73.

6.        Social statistics division central statistics office, Ministry of statistics and programme implementation Govt. Of India. www.soople.com

7.        www.worldorphans.org

 

 

 

Received on 27.07.2018         Modified on 02.08.2018

Accepted on 06.09.2018      ©AandV Publications All right reserved