Knowledge of under five children's’ mothers regarding the six killer diseases

Ms. Minu Sharma, Ms. Gurpreet Kaur, Ms. Jhag Devi Pun, Ms. Jyoti Shukla,

Ms. Lalita Thakur, Ms. Monika Sharma, Ms. Mandip, Ms. Manpreet Kaur, Ms. Mary Sonowal, Ms. Manjot Kaur, Ms. Rupashree Das Gupta

Pal College of Nursing and Medical Sciences, Haldwani, Nanital, Uttarakhand, India

 

ABSTRACT:

With every little baby’s birth God sends his love and joy to earth.  Children are the delicate flower who wilts away before they bloom due to the life threatening diseases. In India nearly 40% of the population constitutes of children. The promotion of healthy child development has become a major focus of world attention over the last three to four decades. A lot of researches need to be conducted concerning the children especially for the under five children as the mortality and morbidity rates are higher in this age group, which may enable us to have a better and clear understanding of the issues concerning children, and how to deal with them effectively.  India is a country still having the highest infant mortality rate among all the countries in the world especially due to the six killer diseases. The leading cause behind this is the unawareness and ignorance among the mothers regarding six killer diseases. The outcomes of these six diseases viz. diphtheria pertussis, tuberculosis, measles, tetanus, polio makes the child handicapped not only at their initial stages of their growth and development but also has a long term deleterious effect in their adulthood and later on. As per the WHO news bulletin (2004), through vaccination and imparting knowledge to under five childrens’ mothers many under five deaths were prevented. It was estimated that 2,94,000 deaths occurred due to pertussis, 4000 deaths from diptheria and as many as 27 million children did not receive the third dose of DPT. Lack of knowledge is the greatest barrier to any improvement in the health conditions. Mothers’ knowledge even within the same socioeconomic class is a key determinant of their child’s health. Henceforth extensive evidence showed that maternal knowledge plays a major role in the decline of infant and child mortality. Here the nurses are in a better position to guide these mothers. Keeping this in view a study was undertaken to assess their level regarding the awareness and knowledge of six killer diseases to gather the baseline information and data so that necessary steps can be taken to educate and spread awareness among them for a better future and safe childhood with an equally improved beginning of life. The findings of the research project would contribute towards producing data related to the ignorance and unawareness of under five childrens’ mothers regarding the six killer diseases which can be of further help to the young researchers in future to formulate an educational plan for the mothers of under five children for prevention, cure and care of six killer diseases.  Objectives of the study was ;To assess the existing knowledge of mothers’ of under five children regarding six killer diseases; To find out the association between the selected demographic variables and knowledge of under five childrens’ mothers regarding six killer diseases.

Exploratory approach and survey design was used to assess the existing knowledge of mothers’ of under five children regarding six killer diseases. The sample size for the study was 60. Data collection tools included a self reporting structured questionnaire. 16 experts determined the content validity of the tools. Reliability was determined by split half reliability test using test retest method. The reliability scores obtained for the structured questionnaire on 10 samples were 0.80 respectively.  Pilot study was conducted on 20 samples from 05.02.10 to 10.02.10. The actual study was done in February. The analysis of the obtained data was done on the objectives and the hypothesis formulated for the study. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used. The level of significance set for testing the hypothesis was 0.05%. The major findings of the study showed that: Description of knowledge scores of under five childrens’ mothers related to the six killer diseases showed that maximum (66.60%) mothers had average knowledge score, (25%) had good knowledge scores, while only 8.40% mothers were having poor knowledge regarding the six killer diseases. Results also indicated that mothers were not fully aware about the six killer diseases.  Association between the knowledge of mothers with the selected demographic variables showed that calculated  χ² value is smaller than the table value at 5% level(p>0.05), hence null hypothesis was accepted rejecting the alternate hypothesis as there was no significant association between the knowledge scores of mothers and the selected demographic variables.

 

 

INTRODUCTION:

The newborn is the very spring of life and hope. Six killer diseases among the under five children are responsible for their highest morbidity and mortality rates. The leading cause behind this is the unawareness and ignorance among the mothers regarding six killer diseases. ¹

 

India is a country still having the highest infant mortality rate 53 per 1000 live births (2009) among all the countries in the world especially due to the six killer diseases. Henceforth if these six killer diseases are not cured and cared for at the initial stages of their occurrences; can leave the child physically and mentally crippled at their later stages. The outcomes of these six diseases viz. diphtheria pertusis, tuberculosis, measles, tetanus, polio makes the child handicapped not only at their initial stages of their growth and development but also has a long term deleterious effect in their adulthood and later on. Infants suffering with these six killer diseases begin life immediately disadvantaged & face poor survival rates.  There are plenty of evidences to show that better control of infant mortality is related to a wider spread of awareness particularly awareness of the mothers as they are the primary care takers of their  child. ¹

 

As per the UNICEF report, New York, it showed that the average rate of decline estimated from 2000 to 2008 is 2.3 percent, compared to 1.4 percent average decline from 1990 to 2000. While progress has been made in many countries, the global rate of improvement is still insufficient. Certain countries with large populations bear a disproportionate burden of under five deaths, with 40 percent of the world’s under five death recorded in India, Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo. ²

 

Measles is an endemic virtually in all parts of the world. Although measles immunization is an effective strategy to prevent cases, outbreaks can continue to occur, especially in densely populated areas such as in urban slums even with good coverage. In India, measles is a major cause of morbidity and a significant contributor to childhood mortality.¹

 

A cross-sectional study  was conducted by Mishra Ashok, Mishra Subodh, Lahariya Chandrakant, Jain Pankaj , Bhadoriya Rahul, Shrivastav Dhiraj, Marathe Neera (2009)  in the Shivpuri District of Madhya Pradesh to investigate and assess various epidemiological factors associated with measles outbreak through practical observations and had concluded that measles is a major cause of childhood morbidity and mortality, accounting for nearly half of the morbidity associated with vaccine preventable diseases. ³

 

Srinivas V, Puliyel JM (2008) AIIMS, Delhi had done an observational study and arrived to the conclusion that polio eradication was expected to occur by 2000. ⁴

 

As per UNICEF report (2007) Bernama, it revealed that world's most populous countries India and China managed to reduce its under five mortality rate by 80 percent between 1970 and 2006, i.e.  from 118 per 1,000 live births to 24 per 1,000 live births. India and China together accounted for one third of the death under the age of five years out of 9.7 million children dying worldwide. ⁵

 

Vincent Annelli M D.(2006) of Medical Review Board declared  that  under five children over 2,50,000 are at risk of getting infected with TB bacilli as well as developing TB due to less developed immune system.⁶

 

Lack of knowledge is the greatest barrier to any improvement in the health conditions. Mothers’ knowledge even within the same socioeconomic class is a key determinant of their child’s health.¹ Henceforth an extensive evidence showed that maternal knowledge plays a major role in the decline of infant and child mortality.

 

The art of child care has to be learnt. Even in conditions of extreme poverty, children could reasonably survive if they are nurtured and cared for efficiently and since mothers are the primary caregivers hence it is the quality of mothering which plays a key role in the upbringing of her child in a more healthy manner preventing her child from all possible deleterious diseases capable of producing irreparable damage to the child thus reducing infant mortality.¹

 

Keeping in view the above studies being done it was found that the care of under five children poses a considerable threat and challenge to the entire family especially to their mothers as she is the key person in the family especially in her child’s life.

 

RESEARCH STATEMENT:

An exploratory study to assess the knowledge of under five childrens’ mothers regarding the six killer diseases in selected area of Jalandhar cantonment.

 

OBJECTIVES:

1.To assess the existing knowledge of mothers’ of under five children regarding six killer diseases.

2.To find out association between the selected demographic variables and knowledge of under five childrens’ mothers regarding six killer diseases.

 

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY:

The study was conducted in urban area of Jalandhar cantonment among 60 mothers of under five children irrespective of parity as sample which were selected through Convenience Sampling technique by assessing knowledge of mothers.

 

Investigator used exploratory research approach (survey) to assess the knowledge of under five mothers’ regarding six killer diseases. Single group of under five childrens’ mothers were assessed through self reporting knowledge questionnaire.

 

A structured questionnaire was prepared and used for data collection through self reporting     questionnaire which was being distributed to the group.

 

DATA ANALYSIS:

Sociodemographic characteristics were described using frequency and percentage. Manual data analysis was done to analyze the data. Knowledge score described in terms of mean Standard deviation standard error mean and percentage distribution of mothers knowledge in term of percentage distribution. The association finding was done to find the relationship between the knowledge and the selected demographic variables, by using chi square test and calculating the “p” value.

 

 

Table No. 1:   Frequency and percentage of sample characteristics.   

The data presented in Table No. 1 indicates that majority of the mothers of under five childrens are in the age group of  98.4%, 91.6% were Hindus, 51.6% of the mothers resided in joint families, with 40% of them having primary education. 95% of the mothers were housewives; maximum mothers 48.4% had a family monthly income between Rs.5000-10,000/-.44% belonged to urban locality and 33% mothers had only one child. Mother had maximum 52.1% male child.

 

Table No. 2 : Description of mean and S.D of knowledge score of mothers of under five regarding six killer diseases.                                                                                               N=60  

 

The above Table No. 2 show that maximum 66.60% mothers of under five children scored between(6-10) signifying average knowledge. 25 % of mothers of under five children scored between (11- 16) signifying good knowledge, whereas only 8.40% of mothers of under five children scored between (0-5) signifying poor knowledge.

 

Fig.1: Pyramid diagram showing percentage distribution of mothers’ knowledge scores    regarding six killer diseases.

 

Figure No. 1 show the knowledge scores of mothers maximum mothers had average knowledge score (66.60%) regarding six killer diseases,(25%)had good knowledge scores, while the knowledge scores of (8.40%) mothers were poor regarding the six killer diseases. Results also indicated that mothers were not fully aware about the six killer diseases henceforth a further need existed to strengthen the knowledge of mothers further regarding the six killer diseases to prevent under five mortality rate.

 

Table No. 3: Association between the knowledge of mothers regarding six killer diseases with selected demographic variables.       N = 60

  * p > 0.05   ;   NS: No Significant

   

The above data given in the Table No. 3 shows that the calculated χ² value was smaller than the table value and p value was more than the 0.05% in the association between the knowledge scores of mothers with the selected demographic variables; hence null hypothesis was accepted rejecting the alternate hypothesis as there was no significant association between the knowledge scores and the demographic variable.

 

CONCLUSION

The study showed that Maximum mothers (66.60%) of under five children had average knowledge regarding six killer diseases. There is no significant association between the knowledge scores of mothers of under five children and the selected demographic variables.

 

The following conclusions can be drawn on the basis of the study:-

1.    Maximum mothers (66.60%) of under five children had average knowledge regarding six killer diseases.

2.    There is no significant association between the knowledge scores of mothers of under five children and the selected demographic variables.

 

REFRENCES:

1.     Park K. Textbook of preventive and social medicine. 9thed. Jabalpur: Banarsidas bhanot; 2007. p. 458-60.

2.     UNICEFreport,NewYork;Sep2008http://www.unicef.org/turkey/pc/  cp46.html

3.     Mishra A, Mishra S, Lahariya C, Jain P, Bhadoriya R,   Shrivastav D etal. Various epidemiological factors associated with measles outbreak Journal of community medicine 2009; 34(2):117-121.

4.     Srinivas V, Puliyel JM. Estimation of true incidence of polio Indian Pediatrics 2008 Aug;44(8):596-7.

5.     Young child survival and development UNICEF report Bernama.http://www.unicef.org/childsurvival/index_40850.html

6.     Vincent                  Annelli       MD; Incidence of tuberculosis in under five children. Medical          reviewboardreport;2006http:// pediatrics.  about.com/cs/commoninfections/a/tuberculosis.html

 

 

 

Received on 24.07.2017       Modified on 30.10.2017

Accepted on 19.12.2017      ©A&V Publications All right reserved