BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY:

India is one of the fastest growing countries in terms of population and economics, sitting at a population of 1,139.96 million (2009) and growing at 10–14% annually (from 2001–2007). India's Gross Domestic Product growth was 9.0% from 2007 to 2008; since Independence in 1947, its economic status has been classified as a low-income country with majority of the population at or below the poverty line. Though most of the population is still living below the National Poverty Line, its economic growth indicates new opportunities and a movement towards increase in the prevalence of chronic diseases which is observed in at high rates in developed countries such as United States, Canada and Australia. The combination of people living in poverty and the recent economic growth of India has led to the co-emergence of two types of malnutrition: under nutrition and over nutrition¹

A crossectional study was conducted that the state of Malnutrition among children in Raichur district: As pointed above the Advisor has repeatedly drawn the attention of the authorities and the State Government to the grave situation in Raichur district.

Vide letters dated 12^th November 2010 and 29^th July 2011 the issue of malnutrition in Raichur district was brought to the attention of the Chief Secretary. Between 8^th and 9^th October 2011, the Advisor visited few villages in Raichur district and one slum in Raichur city in regard to the malnutrition prevailing in the district. A copy of the report is placed as Alarmingly since April 2009 to August 2011, 2689 malnourished children have died in the district of Raichur alone, and 4531 children are suffering from severe malnutrition. It is pertinent to note that all officials including the Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri Sadananda Gowda have admitted the same. A copy of the information received from the Department of Women and Child Department is placed as In our visit we came across incidents of deaths of children due to malnutrition, most notably in Malledervaragudda village where a brother and sister died within 1 ½ month of each other. The girl, Mahalaxmi was aged 2.2 years but weighed only 3.5 kgs while her elder brother Anjeneya was aged 5 years and weighed a mere 5 kgs.²

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM:

A study to evaluate the effectiveness of planned teaching programme on prevention of child malnutrition among selected urban primary school teachers of Bagalkot dist.

The objectives of the study were as follows:

1. To assess the knowledge about prevention of child malnutrition among primary school teachers.

2. To evaluate the effectiveness of planned teaching programme about prevention of child malnutrition among primary school teachers.

3. To find out the relationship between the pretest knowledge about prevention of child malnutrition with selected socio-demographic variables.

Assumptions:

1. The primary school teachers have some knowledge regarding prevention of child malnutrition.

2. The result of the study will help to prevent the child malnutrition among the selected urban primary school teachers at Bagalkot Dist.

Hypothesis:

H1: The mean post test knowledge score of urban primary school teachers exposed to planned teaching programme on prevention child malnutrition among primary school teachers will be significantly higher than their mean pretest score 0.001 level of significance.

H2: There will be significant association between knowledge regarding prevention of child malnutrition among primary school teachers with selected socio-demographic variables.

REASEARCH METHODOLOGY:

Research design; Quasi Experimental that is one group pre test post test design

Setting of the study: The study was conducted in a urban primary school Bagalkot.

Population: The target population of the study is the teachers working in urban primary school of Bagalkot District.

The accessible population of the study is the teachers working at Basaveshwar pre-primary, primary and new high school Bagalkot.

Sample and sampling technique:

Sample: Sample is a small portion of the population selected for observation and proper technique. The sample for the present study composed of 30 teachers working at Basaveshwar pre primary, primary and new high school Bagalkot, Karnataka.

Sampling technique:

Sampling technique is the procedure, which the researcher adopts in selecting the subjects for the study.

In view of the objectives of the study simple random sampling technique was used.

Sampling criteria

Inclusive criteria:

1. Teachers who are willing to participate in the study.

2. Teachers who are present at the time of data collection.

Exclusive criteria:

1. Who are not willing to participate in the study?

2. Not available at the time of data collection.

Variables:

A variable is any phenomenon or characteristics are attitudes under study. These are the measurable characteristics of concepts and consist of logical group of attitude.

a) Dependent variables:

These response behavior are outcome that researcher wishes to predict or explain. In the proposed study dependent variables are:

v Knowledge of urban primary school teachers regarding malnutrition and prevention of malnutrition

b) Independent variables:

The treatment or experimental variable that is manipulated or varied by the researcher to create an effect on dependent variables.

In this study the planned teaching programme was independent variable.

c) Extraneous variables:

That exists in all studies and can affect measurement of study variable and the examination of the relationship with study. These extraneous variables are identified from the study area:

v Health professionals

v Mass media (News paper, radio, T.V etc)

v Family members, friends and relatives

d) Attributed variable:

Pre existing characteristics of study participants, which the researcher simply observe or measures. In this study the socio demographic variables such as age in years, gender, year of experience, educational status, religion, marital status, monthly income, attended any workshop, and sources of information. Since these are considered to influence the knowledge about prevention of child malnutrition among primary school teachers.

RESULTS:

Presentation of data

The data was presented under following sections.

Section I: Findings related to socio demographic variables

Section II: Testing of hypothesis for the evaluation of effectiveness of P.T.P

Section III: Association between the knowledge and socio demographic variables.

Section I: Findings related to socio demographic variables In this study the data collected was organized, tabulated, analyzed and interpreted by means of statistical tables and graphs and is presented under the following headings

Section II: Testing of hypothesis for the evaluation of effectiveness of P.T.P

Distribution of knowledge level according to scores

Knowledge level Scores

Very poor 0-7

Poor 8-14

Adequate 15-21

Good 22-28

Very good 29-36

Table 1: Frequency and percentage distribution of employees according to socio-demographic variables N = 30

Socio-Demographic variables	Frequency	% of respondents
Age (in years)
20-30 years	19	63.33
31-40 years	9	30.00
41-50 years	2	6.67
51-60 years	0
Total	30	100
Gender
Male	6	20
Female	24	80
Total	30	100
Work Experience (in years)
Below 1year	5	16.67
1-5years	19	63.33
6-10 years	3	10.00
Above 11years	3	10.00
Total	30	100
Educational qualifications
DED	13	43.34
BED	15	50.00
MED	1	3.33
If any other qualification	1	3.33
Total	30	100
Religion
Hindu	28	93.33
Christian	0
Muslim	2	6.67
Others	0
Total	30	100
Marital status
Married	15	50
Unmarried	14	46.67
Widow/widower	1	3.33
Divorced/saparated	0
Total	30	100
Duration of monthly income
Below 8000	23	76.67
8001-10000	3	10
10001-12000	3	10
Above12001	1	3.33
Total	30	100
Attended any workshop
Yes	1	3.33
No	29	96.67
If yes please specify
Total	30	100
Sources of information
Tv/radio	12	40
Newspaper/magazine/books	16	53.33
Contact with health personals
Friends/relatives/collogues/parents	2	6.67
Total	30	100.00

Level of knowledge:

Table 2 represents that, out of 30 subjects 3(10%) had very poor knowledge, 18(60%) had poor knowledge,9(30%) had adequate knowledge in pretest. And about 13(43.33%) of had adequate knowledge, 13(43.33%) had good knowledge, 03(10%) subjects had very good knowledge and only 1(3.33%) had poor knowledge after teaching programme (post test) The above findings states that “Research hypothesis H₁: There is significant difference in the knowledge of teachers regarding malnutrition and after administration of planned teaching programme” as stated by the investigator earlier was accepted.

Table 2: Distribution of study subjects according to levels of knowledge in post test N = 30

Test	Levels of knowledge	Frequency	%
Pretest	Very poor	03	10
	Poor	18	60
	Adequate	09	30
	Good	00	00
	Very good	00	00
Post test	Very poor	00	00.00
	Poor	01	03.34
	Adequate	13	43.33
	Good	13	43.33
	Very good	03	10.00

Table 3 reveals aspect wise pre-test mean percentage knowledge score on malnutrition prevention Aspect wise mean percentage knowledge score regarding malnutrition and prevention obtained from respondents. The pre test total knowledge mean score is found to be 11.87 ± 3.8compared to post test it is 22.5 ± 4.53. It indicated that the change of total knowledge scores (percentage) from pre to post test is about 40%. But about 38.9 % in knowledge about general informsation and 43.2% in knowledge about prevention. It means that after P T P the knowledge scores are significantly higher than before P T P. (Table 3)

From the results of table 4, we clearly seen or observed that, the pre test and post test total knowledge scores are found to be statistically significant ( t= 11.19, P= 0.0000). It means that the post test knowledge scores (22.5 ± 3.7) is higher than pre test scores (11.87± 4.53).

Similarly the dimension like knowledge about general information the post test scores are higher ( 22.5 ± 4.539) as compared to ( 11.87 ± 4.539) and found to be statistically significant ( t= 11.19,P= 0.0000) and the knowledge about malnutrition and prevention, the post test scores are higher than pre test scores , found to be statistically significant( t= 11.19,P =0.0000). In other words, the post test scores of total knowledge and its dimensions are higher than the pre test scores. (Table 4)

Table 3: Mean and SD values of pre and post test scores of knowledge and its dimensions

Area wise analysis	Max. score	Pre test		Post test		Mean (%)
Area wise analysis	Max. score	Mean	Std. Dev.	Mean	Std. Dev.	Pre test	Post test
General information about malnutrition and prevention	36	11.87	3.7	22.5	4.539	39.56	75
Total knowledge	36	11.87	3.7	22.5	4.539	39.56	75

Table 4: Comparison of pre and post test scores of knowledge and its dimensions by students paired t-test

Variables	Test	Mean	Std. Dv	Mean Diff.	SD Diff.	Standard error	Paired t-value	t-table value
Total knowledge	Pretest	11.87	3.7	-10.63	5.12	0.936	11.19	2.045
Total knowledge	posttest	22.5	4.539	-10.63	5.12	0.936	11.19	2.045

*p<0.001* * Significant at.> 0.001% Level

Table 5: Comparison of socio demographic variables respect to mean scores of knowledge and its dimensions

Sl no	Socio demographic variables	Test used	Degree of freedom	Calculated/ p-value	Table value	Level of significance	significance
1	Age in years	Chi-square test	1	0.0103	3.84	0.05	No significance
2	Gender	Fisher’s probability test	1	0.38	……	0.05	No significance
3	Work experience	Fisher’s probability test	1	1.0	……	0.05	No significance
4	Educational status	Chi-square test	1	0.474	3.84	0.05	No significance
5	Religion	Fisher’s probability test	1	1	……	0.05	No significance
6	Marital status	Chi-square test	1	0.534	3.84	0.05	No significance
7	Monthly income	Yates’s correction test	1	0.566	3.84	0.05	No significance
8	Attended any workshop	Fisher’s probability test	1	0.01	…..	0.05	No significance
9	Source of information	Chi-square test	1	0.199	3.84	0.05	No significance

A Study to Evaluate the Effectiveness of Planned Teaching Programme on Prevention of Child Malnutrition among Selected Urban Primary School Teachers of Bagalkot District

Hypothesis: