Responsiveness to Structured Teaching Programme on Prevention of Hepatitis ‘A’ among Adults

 

Mr. Ananthabadmanaban, B. Ashok

Lecturer, Department of Community Nursing, Angel College of Nursing, Khammam

Corresponding Author Email: anandabadmanaban@gmail.com

 

ABSTRACT:

Background: Globally around 1.5 million symptomatic Hepatitis ‘A’ cases occur each year with likely tens of millions of infections. Hepatitis A virus (HAV) is responsible for considerable morbidity and economic losses to under developing countries like India. Objectives: To assess the effectiveness of structured teaching programme of knowledge on prevention of Hepatitis A among the adults. Design:  A one group pre test and post test Pre experimental design was adopted for the study. Setting: Thandalam village at Kanchipuram District. Participants: 100 adults with fulfilling the inclusion criteria were selected by convenient sampling. Methods: A pre test was conducted by using knowledge questionnaire related to hepatitis A. Immediately after pre test structured teaching programme was given to the adults about prevention of hepatitis A  for 7 days and 8th day  post test was conducted to assess the effectiveness of  structured teaching programme. Collected data was analysed by using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: In pre test, 67 (67%) had inadequate knowledge and 33 (33%) had moderately adequate knowledge whereas in post test, 82(82%) adults had adequate knowledge and 18(18%) had moderately adequate knowledge. By comparing pre test and post test knowledge score, structured teaching programme improved their knowledge on prevention of Hepatitis ‘A’ with statistical significance P<0.05. There was a statistically no significant association found between the post test scores of the sample with their demographic variables. Conclusion: The findings imply the need for educating adults on effective management of prevention of hepatitis A. An Education should be extended to the urban slum adults also.

 

KEYWORDS: Effectiveness, Structured teaching programe, Prevention of hepatitis A, Adults.

 

 


INTRODUCTION:

The incidence of hepatitis A is closely related to socio-economic conditions, and sero-epidemiological studies show that prevalence of anti-hepatitis A antibodies varies from 15% to close to 100% in different parts of the world. An estimated 1.5 million clinical cases of hepatitis A occur worldwide each year. The disease is endemic in many low-income countries where food and water hygiene may be of a low standard, (WHO, 2010)1

 

Hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection in early childhood is mostly asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic. In the absence of specific anti-viral drugs, it requires only supportive management. The relative frequency of symptomatic hepatitis and asymptomatic infection has been reasonably well characterized and appears to be strikingly age dependent. With improvement in socio-economic conditions and its consequences, early childhood exposure to the virus has decreased. Hence, there has been a gradual shift in the age of acquiring the infection from early childhood to adulthood in different parts of the world.

 

Concomitantly, there was an increase in symptomatic cases and in severe clinical outcomes including liver failure. The social and economic burden of this morbidity and mortality led to the development of several vaccines4. In 2005, encouraged by the huge success of targeted vaccination, the US American Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommended universal childhood HAV vaccination in all children aged between 12-23 months in the United States3.

 

The peak age of seroprevalence is shifting from the 1st decade of life to the 2nd and 3rd decades. This shift in age of acquiring infection from childhood to older age groups is termed as epidemiological shift5. In a country like India with an extensive variations and heterogeneity in the determinants of acquiring anti-HAV antibodies, a unified approach for vaccination would appear epidemiologically inappropriate. These populations are likely to co-exist within same geographic areas, having diverse economic and social classes.

 

This study evaluated knowledge regarding transmission, clinical manifestations and prevention of viral hepatitis in Puerto Rico2. We assessed the level of knowledge about HAV (six questions), HBV (12 questions) and HCV (eight questions) among non-institutionalized Puerto Rican adults aged 21–64 years. Demographic characteristics and self-reported knowledge of these infections were determined through a face-to-face interview. A mean knowledge score was computed by summing correct responses to each scale. Mean knowledge scores according to demographics were compared using ANOVA or the Kruskal–Wallis test. Mean knowledge scores for HAV, HBV and HCV infections were 2.6 ± 1.5, 6.1 ± 2.4, and 3.6 ± 1.1, respectively. For HAV and HBV infections, the mean knowledge score significantly (P < 0.05) increased with age, level of counseling received and number of sources of information. However, for HCV infection the mean knowledge score significantly increased with decreasing age, increased educational level and increased annual family income. Health education must be focused on transmission and prevention methods, including the availability of a vaccine for HAV and HBV.

 

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM:

Assess the effectiveness of structured teaching programme on prevention of hepatitis ‘A’ among adults in Thandalam village at Kanchipuram District.

 

OBJECTIVES:

·         To assess the level of knowledge of the adults on prevention of hepatitis ‘A’ among adults

·         To assess the effectiveness of structured teaching programme on prevention of hepatitis ‘A’ among adults

 

RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS:

·         There is significant difference between pre and post test knowledge scores of the adults  regarding prevention of hepatitis A

·         There is significant association between post test scores and selected demographic variables

 

THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

Imogene King’s goal attainment theory was selected

 

METHODOLOGY:

Research Approach:  Evaluative Approach

 

Design   : Pre Experimental Design (One Group Pre and Post test only design)

 

Setting: Thandalam village at Kanchipuram District

 

Population: Adults in the age group of 20 -40 years

 

Sample Size: 100 adults

 

Sampling Technique: Convenient Sampling Technique

 

Method of data collection

·         Structured Interview Schedule to assess the knowledge

·         Structured Teaching Programme on prevention of hepatitis ‘A’ for teaching

 

Data collection Procedure

·         Pretest was conducted by using structured Interview Schedule to assess the knowledge

·         Immediately after pretest , Structured Teaching Programme was given to the adults about the on prevention of hepatitis ‘A’

·         After 7 days, post test was conducted by using same structured Interview Schedule to assess the knowledge

 

Validity and Reliability

·         Split –half method was used to find the reliability of the Interview Schedule

·         Test – Retest method was used to find out the reliability of the Structured Teaching Programme

 

Plan for data analysis

Descriptive Statistics: Percentage, Mean and Standard deviation

Inferential Statistics : Paired ‘t’ test and Chi - Square test

 

FINDINGS:

The table 1 depicts that the age group 26-30 years were more number of participants. In gender most of them were males.30% of them still open field defecation. 13% of them were previously affected by Hepatitis A (Refer Table:1)

 


 

Table:1 Section A: Frequency and percentage of samples according to their demographic variables

S.NO

DEMOGRAPHIC VARIABLES

FREQUENCY

PERCENTAGE

1.         

Age In Years

       a) 20-25 years

       b)  26-30 years

       c)  31-35 years

       d)  36-40 years

 

22

38

29

11

 

22%

38%

29%

11%

2.         

Sex

       a) Male

       b) Female

 

66

34

 

66%

34%

3.         

Marital Status

     a) Married

     b) Unmarried

     c) Widowed

     d) Divorced/Separated

 

76

17

04

03

 

76%

17%

04%

03%

4.         

Level of Education

     a) Illiterate

     b) Primary education

     c) Higher education

    d) Graduate

 

27

45

22

06

 

27%

45%

22%

06%

5.         

 Occupation Status

     a) Self Employed

     b) Government

     c) Private Employed

     d) Others

 

31

40

07

22

 

31%

40%

07%

22%

6.         

Type Of Family

     a) Nuclear family

     b) Joint family

 

52

48

 

52%

48%

7.         

Monthly  Family Income

     a) Less than Rs.3000

     b) Rs.3001-Rs.5000

     c) Above Rs.5001

 

69

26

05

 

69%

26%

05%

8.         

Food Habits

     a) Non- vegetarian

     b) Vegetarian

 

15

85

 

15%

85%

9.         

Immunization Satatus

     a) Immunized

     b) Non Immunized

 

13

87

 

13%

87%

10.      

Methods Of Disposal Of Waste

     a) Dumping

     b) Incineration

     c) Manure pit

 

21

27

52

 

21%

27%

52%

11.      

Facility For Human Excreta Disposal Is

     a) public laterine

     b) Sanitary laterine

     c) Open field defecation

 

32

38

30

 

32%

38%

30%

12.      

Source of Water Supply

      a) Tap Water

      b) Well Water

      c) Bore Water

 

47

35

18

 

47%

35%

18%

13.      

Habit of Alcohol Consumption

      a) No

      b) Yes

             1) Less than 2 years

             2) More than 2-5 years

             3) More than 5-10year

             4) More than 10 years

 

64

36

12

14

08

02

 

64%

36%

12%

14%

08%

02%

14.      

Previous History of Hepatitis A

        a) No

        b) Yes

             1) Before 1- 8 months

             2) Before 8-16 months

             3) Before 16-24 months & above

 

87

13

01

05

07

 

87%

13%

01%

05%

07%

 


 

Section B:  Assess the level of knowledge of the adults on prevention of hepatitis ‘A’ among adults

The data analyses showed that among 100 adults, 67 (67%) had inadequate knowledge and 33 (33%) had moderately adequate knowledge in the pre test whereas in post test, 82(82%) adults had adequate knowledge and 18(18%) had moderately adequate knowledge.

 


 

Figure : 1 Bar diagram shows the pre and post test level of knowledge scores among adults

 


 

Section C Area -wise mean post test knowledge score of adults found significantly higher (24.48) than their mean pre test knowledge score (13.71) as evident from ‘t’ value (99) = 21.82 p < 0.05 level. This suggested that the Structure Teaching Programme was effective and it increased the knowledge of adults regarding hepatitis ‘A’.

 

CONCLUSION:

·         Prior to implementation of Structure Teaching Programme, the adults had inadequate knowledge on hepatitis ‘A’; the effectiveness was evaluated by post test scores; the mean knowledge score had improved from 13.71 to 24.48 after implementation of Structure Teaching Programme. It shows that STP was effective.

·         Highly significant improvement  was found between pre and post test knowledge scores

·         No significant association was found between post test knowledge scores and demographic variables.

 

REFERENCES:

1.        World Health Organization. The global prevalence of hepatitis A virus infection and susceptibility: A systematic review. WHO/IVB/10.01, 2010

2.        Carmen Albizu, Knowledge of Viral Hepatitis Among Puerto Rican Adults: Implications for Prevention, J Community Health. Aug 2011; 36(4): 565–573.  

3.        Armstrong GL, Wasley A, Simard EP, McQuillan GM, Kuhnert WL, Alter MJ. The prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection in the United States, 1999 through 2002. Ann Intern Med 2006;144:705–14.

4.        Smith BD, Patel N, Beckett GA, Jewett A, Ward JW. Hepatitis C virus antibody prevalence, correlates and predictors among persons born from 1945 through 1965, United States, 1999–2008 [Abstract]. American Association for the Study of Liver Disease, November 6, 2011. San Francisco, CA 2011

5.        Guyatt GH, Oxman AD, Kunz R, et al. GRADE guidelines: 8. Rating the quality of evidence-indirectness. J Clin Epidemiol 2011;64: 1303–10.

 

 

Received on 19.08.2014          Modified on 24.09.2013

Accepted on 27.10.2014          © A&V Publication all right reserved

Asian J. Nur. Edu. and Research 5(1): Jan.-March 2015; Page 38-41

DOI: 10.5958/2349-2996.2015.00009.9