INTRODUCTION:

In December 2019, the capital of the Chinese province Hubel, Wuhan city, witnessed an outbreak of ‘pneumonia of unknown source ‘attributed to a newly identified culprit; a novel corona virus. Most people infected with the COVID-19 virus will experience mild to moderate respiratory illness and recover without requiring special treatment.

While the majority of cases result in mild symptoms, some progress to pneumonia and multi-organ failure. International directives issues by the WHO and the CDC are limited to supportive treatment and prevention to achieve infection control. For the time being, there are no vaccines or antiviral treatment for the coronavirus family.¹

NEED AND SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY:

From 30 December 2019 through 11 October 2020, over 37 million COVID-19 cases and 1 million deaths have been reported globally. India reported over 8.1 million confirmed cases as of October 31, 2020. Out of these, around 7.4 million patients recovered, while 1 22,154 were fatal. The first case of the COVID-19 pandemic in Kerala (which was also the first in all of India) was confirmed in Thrissur on 30 January 2020. As of13 November, there have been 5,14,060 confirmed cases with 4,34,730(84.56%) recoveries and 1,822 deaths in the state.² This study helps to find out the knowledge gaps among the housewives regarding the Covid-19 and the misconceptions and superstitious beliefs prevailing in the society about it. As housewives are the pillars in every family and takes part in uplifting the health of the family, thereby society and the country. So, this study helps to identify the knowledge level among housewives and make people to be aware of adopting healthy lifestyles in managing and preventing infection and its complications. After this study people will be aware of adopting healthy lifestyles and can manage and prevent complications.³

This study was supported by a cross-sectional survey conducted among adult women in Bangladesh to determine the level of knowledge, perception, attitude, and preparedness related to COVID-19. They conducted a pretest and posttest that includes the preventive measures and management of covid 19. Younger and educated women had better knowledge levels compared to the older and lower-educated participants (p < 0.01). More efforts are required to educate women with older age and lower socioeconomic status. Although the participants had a satisfactory level of knowledge and a positive attitude in adopting preventive measures against COVID-19, greater efforts are needed from the healthcare authorities and Government.⁴

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY:

The purpose of the study is to assess the effectiveness of structured teaching programme on knowledge regarding the prevention and management of Covid-19 among housewives.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM:

Effectiveness of structured teaching programme on knowledge regarding the prevention and management of covid-19 among housewives in selected area, Alappuzha district.

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY:

1. To assess the knowledge level about COVID-19 among housewives in Alappuzha district.

2. To evaluate the effectiveness of a planned teaching program on prevention and management of coronavirus.

3. To determine the association between pretest knowledge score with selected demographic variables.

ASSUMPTIONS:

Structured teaching programme may be effective in prevention and management of Covid-19

HYPOTHESIS:

HI: There will be significant difference in pretest and post test knowledge among housewives on prevention and management of Covid-19 following structured teaching programme.

H2: There will be an association between pretest knowledge with selected demographic variables.

CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK:

Ludwig Von Bertalanffy’s Model

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY:

The research approach and design adopted for the study is quantitative research approach and a pre-experimental one group pretest-posttest design. Population in this study consists of 50 housewives in Alappuzha district who were selected using convenient sampling technique.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Persons who are present at the time of study

2. Persons who can read and write Malayalam

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Persons with a history of Covid-19 disease

2. Persons who are not willing to participate

3. Persons who belong to a family affected with disease.

DESCRIPTION OF THE TOOL:

Part 1: Sociodemographic data

This part of the tool consisted of sociodemographic data which includes age, religion, education, residential area, type of family, monthly income, and number of family members.

Part 2: Structured Knowledge Questionnaire

The knowledge questionnaire developed by the investigator consists of 30 multiple choice questions regarding prevention and management of Covid-19.

Part 3: Structured Teaching Programme

Structured teaching programme to the housewives using appropriate audio-visual aids and an information booklet with detailed description of prevention and management of Covid-19.

DATA COLLECTION PROCEDURE:

After getting approval from the concerned authorities for the study, the data was collected among the housewives. The researcher visited all the houses of the samples with their prior permission. After assuring the confidentiality, the subjects were requested to participate in the study. Sociodemographic data was collected and a self-structured questionnaire was used to assess knowledge regarding the prevention and management of Covid-19. Data was collected and a structured teaching programme on prevention and management of COVID 19 given. The data were analyzed and on seventh day the posttest given with the same knowledge questionnaire to assess the effectiveness of structured teaching programme.

RESULT AND DISCUSSION:

Table -1 Frequency distribution of subjects based on Socio demographic variables

Variables

Category

Frequency

Percentage (%)

Age

25 - 29

30 - 34

35 – 39

40 – 44

45 – 49

Religion

Hindu

Christian

Muslim

Education

Secondary Edu.

Graduation

Post-graduation

Others

Residential area

Rural

Urban

Type of Family

Nuclear

Joint

Extended

Monthly income

<5000

5000 – 10000

10001 - 20000

>200000

Table – 2 Frequency distribution of knowledge level of housewives regarding the prevention and management of covid-19.

Sl. No	Variable	Frequency	%
1	Mode of transmission
	Droplet	46	92
	Soil	1	4
	Water	2	2
	Food	1	2
2	Name of virus which cause corona infection
	SARS	8	16
	SARS CoV 2	42	92
	MERS	0	0
	NIPHA	0	0
3	Methods to protect ourselves from covid 19
	Hand washing	6	12
	Keep physical distancing of 6 feet	5	10
	Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth	8	16
	All of the above	31	62
4	Organ which mostly affected by corona virus
	Lungs	44	88
	Heart	6	12
	Liver	0	0
	Brain	0	0
5	What is the meaning of self -isolation
	Avoid going for shopping	8	16%
	Avoid talking to others	21	42%
	Stay at home separately from others	20	40%
	Start self- medication	1	2%
6	What precaution to be taken while caring a positive person?
	Keep the person alone at home	18	36
	Start self medication	5	10
	Drink plenty of fluids	0	0
	Wear a mask and maintain 2 feet distance	27	54

Fig 2 shows that all the 50 samples scored a good knowledge level on the posttest.

Table 3 indicates that the mean pretest knowledge level of housewives regarding prevention and management of covid-19 was increased from 20.24±4.45 to 27.96±5.23. The mean difference was found to be 7.72.

Figure 1 Percentage distribution of pretest knowledge level among housewives regarding the prevention and management of covid -19.

Figure 2 Frequency distribution of pretest and posttest knowledge level of housewives regarding prevention and management of covid-19.

Table 3: Mean, standard deviation and mean difference of pre and post interventional level of knowledge among housewives. N=50

Mean

Standard deviation

Mean difference

Pretest

20.24

4.45

7.72

Post test

27.96

5.23

Table 4 Comparison of pre and posttest knowledge level of housewives regarding the prevention and management of covid-19 N=50

Mean

Calculated t value

Table t value

Inference

Pre test

20.24

4.45

14.674

2.680

Post test

27.96

5.23

*<0.05 level of significance S=significant

Table 4 indicates that the pretest mean and standard deviation was 20.24±4.45 and posttest mean and standard deviation are 27.96±5.23. On analysis by paired 't' test, the calculated t value is 14.674 and table value is 2.680, it indicates that it is statistically significant. There is improved level of knowledge in the post test among housewives regarding prevention and management of covid -19 than the pretest.

To determine the association between the pretest score and selected demographic variables, chi-square analysis was done. The result showed that there was no significant association between the knowledge score and the demographic variables like age, religion, education, residential area, type of family and the monthly family income.

DISCUSSION:

This study was to assess the effectiveness of structured teaching programme on prevention and management of COVID 19 among housewives. The findings of this study were the majority of housewives 22(44%) belongs to 25-29 age group, majority of housewives 28 (56%) belongs to religion of Christians, the most of housewives 27(54%) were with the educational qualification of graduation and many of housewives’ residential area 34(68%) is urban, the majority of housewives with 33(66%) belongs to nuclear family, majority of housewives with 20(40%) were having monthly income of 5000-10000 rupees. The majority of housewives (50%) answeredcovid-19 is a name of a virus, 42(84%) the virus is the microorganism that causes the covid-19 infection and 42(84%) of housewives answered the SARSCoV2 is the causative agent of covid-19. The majority of housewives 46(92%) answered as droplet transmission is the mode of transmission, 38(76%) answered the common symptoms were dry cough, fever and breathing difficulty, 20(40%) answered 20 days were the incubation period.

The pretest mean and standard deviation was 20.24±4.45 and posttest mean and standard deviation are 27.96±5.23. On analysis by paired 't' test, the calculated t value is 14.674 and table value is 2.680, it indicates that it is statistically significant. There is improved level of knowledge in the post test among housewives regarding prevention and management of covid -19 than the pretest. The whole samples attained the good knowledge score level after the structured teaching programme. The study also found that there is no significant association between the knowledge level and the various demographic factors like age, religion, education, residential area, type of family and the monthly income of the family.

CONCLUSION:

The study pointed out some important concern about the understanding of COVID-19 pandemic among Indians. There is a clear need for training program with respect to locale-specific scenario targeted to a specific cluster of population emplaning upon their respective lifestyle, to improve the knowledge and compliance about risk and preventions. Creating awareness by innovative ways should be adopted as one of the best practices to combat the spread of pandemic. Presentations on TV, social media in local people’s friendly language, online and live competitions with continuous guidelines are required. There is a need to elaborate the Indian socio-cultural aspects so that society start appreciating and voluntarily following social distancing. This should improve the confidence of people to let them protect themselves not only from the present pandemic but also from all other unforeseen infections, provide care to patients, contribute towards country’s economic build-up by maintaining livelihood resilience with continued presence and productivity at workplace. This should improve the confidence of people to let them protect themselves and care COVID- 19 patients and improve their quality of life.⁹

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Received on 20.09.2022 Modified on 14.02.2023

Asian J. Nursing Education and Research. 2023; 13(3):217-220.

DOI: 10.52711/2349-2996.2023.00046