Effect of Self-Instructional Module on Knowledge and Attitude regarding Prevention of Obesity among Adolescents

 

Vijayalakshmi N¹, Benitta J²

¹Professor, KG College of Nursing, Coimbatore. (Affiliated to The TN Dr MGR Medical University, Chennai).

²Msc (Nursing) KG College of Nursing, Coimbatore. (Affiliated to The TN Dr MGR Medical University, Chennai).

 

ABSTRACT:

At present the potential public health issue that is emerging is the increasing incidence of childhood obesity in developing countries and the resulting socioeconomic and public health burden that will be faced by these countries in the near future. The prevalence is increasing at a fast rate and presently, about 200 million school-aged children are estimated to be overweight at the global level. In the year 2025, India will have over 17 million obese children and stand second among 184 countries where the number of obese children is concerned. The present study is aimed to assess the effectiveness of self-instructional module on knowledge and attitude regarding prevention of obesity among adolescents in a selected school, Coimbatore. Thirty adolescent between the age group of 12 to 15 years were selected as samples by using stratified sampling technique. Data collection was done for one month by using knowledge questionnaire and attitude scale. The data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, following the analysis it shows that in pre test 40% of the children have moderately adequate knowledge, in post- test 93% of the children have adequate knowledge. In pre –test 87% of the adolescent have unfavorable attitude, in post-test 90% of the adolescent have most favorable attitude. When comparing the pre test and post test knowledge and attitude there is a significant difference between pre test and post test values. There is a significant correlation between knowledge and attitude. It concludes that self instructional module is effective to improve the knowledge and attitude regarding prevention of obesity among adolescents.

 

INTRODUCTION:

Adolescence from Latin adolescere, meaning 'to grow up' is a transitional stage of physical and psychological development that generally occurs during the period from puberty to legal adulthood which comprises 20% of the world’s population.¹

 

 

The prevalence of overweight and obesity among children and adolescents has widely increased worldwide making it one of the most common chronic disorders in this age group and in adulthood.²

 

Obesity is a disorder of energy metabolism involving excessive adipose tissue stores, which is associated with medical or psychosocial morbidity. The prevalence, as well as the severity of obesity in adolescents is increasing at an alarming rate, making it one of the most serious health problems affecting this age group.³ Childhood obesity is a matter of concern worldwide and WHO has designated obesity as global epidemic. The global prevalence of obesity in children of 5-17 years has been calculated to be 10% by The International Obesity Task Force (IOTF).⁴

 

Most schools can help students to adopt healthy eating habits and physical activity. A strong contribution from schools is required to reverse the epidemic and to protect the childhood population. Improving the efforts of healthy eating & physical activity should be the fundamental aim of the schools. Educating young people to become healthy & productive citizen can make meaningful contributions to the society. Effective strategies are needed to be implemented in schools which can play a strong role in improving the lives of young people through physical activity and healthy eating habits.⁵

 

According to the WHO, more than 1.2 billion people worldwide are classified as overweight and 250 million are classified as obese. Worldwide, this is equivalent to 7 percent of adult population. Obesity affects as many as 15-30% of school children and adolescents, depending on the standards used to define obesity. The prevalence rate has been rising steadily since 1965, with a relative increase of 20% in children aged 6-11 years and 18% in adolescents. Children are becoming obese at younger ages. The obesity that occurs early in life and persists throughout childhood is more difficult to treat; if obesity continue s into adolescence it is unlikely that he/she will outgrow.⁶

 

So the adolescents need to be educated to make them aware about obesity and its prevention. Hence the researcher felt the need to provide an education through self-instructional module and thereby improve the adolescents’ knowledge and help them to attain most favorable attitude regarding prevention of obesity for their better future. So the Aim of the study is to assess the effectiveness of self-instructional module on knowledge and attitude regarding prevention of obesity among adolescents in a selected school, Coimbatore.

 

 

METHODOLOGY:

The study was carried out in selected schools in Coimbatore. Data collection was conducted for a period of four weeks with the 30 children between the age group of 12 to 15 years. Institutional ethical committee approval was obtained. Adolescents with auditory and visual impairment, who are sick at the time of data collection, who have already attended the obesity awareness programme were excluded in this study. By using inclusion criteria samples were selected by stratified random sampling technique. One group pre test and post test research design was adopted in this study. The researcher met the subjects and explained about the purpose of the research and assured confidentiality and anonymity and obtained consent from the subjects.

 

The demographic variables were collected by using structured questionnaire. The pre-test was conducted to assess the adolescents’ knowledge regarding prevention of obesity by using structured questionnaire. The attitude regarding prevention of obesity was assessed by using 5 point Likert scale. Then the subjects received self-instructional module regarding prevention of obesity. They interpreted the information from the self-instructional module and their doubts were clarified by the researcher. By the end of 2^nd week, post-test was done by the researcher using the same tool. At the end of the study the data was analyzed by using appropriate statistical tests.

 

RESULTS:

Regarding baseline variables majority of the adolescent are female, most of the adolescent were first born, most of the adolescent were from nuclear family, majority of the children were from urban area, most of the children were single child, majority of the children were from upper socio economic status. In pre-test regarding general aspect 40% of the children have moderately knowledge; in post- test 93% of the children have adequate knowledge. (Tab: 1)  In pre–test 87% of the adolescent have unfavorable attitude, in post-test 90% of the adolescent have most favorable attitude. (fig: 1)

Table-1: Distribution of pre-test and post-test scores on the level of knowledge regarding prevention of obesity among adolescents

S. N	Aspects regarding prevention of obesity	Pre-test						Post-test
		Inadequate knowledge (≤50%)		Moderately adequate  knowledge(51-75%)		Adequate knowledge (>75%)		Inadequate knowledge (≤50%)		Moderately adequate  knowledge(51-75%)		Adequate knowledge (>75%)
		No	%	No	%	No	%	No	%	No	%	No	%
1	General information	18	60	12	40	-	-	-	-	2	7	28	93
2	Healthy food practices	20	67	10	33	-	-	-	-	4	13	26	87
3	Prevention and control of obesity	27	90	3	10	-	-	-	-	6	20	24	80
4	Overall knowledge	23	77	7	23	-	-	-	-	4	13	26	87

 

 

 

 

 

Fig:1 Distribution of pre-test and post-test scores on the level of Attitude regarding prevention of obesity among adolescents

 

When comparing the pre test and post-test knowledge the calculated value of‘t’ is greater than the tabulated value of ‘t’ at 5% level of significance. It shows that there is a significant difference between pre-test and post-test scores on knowledge regarding prevention of obesity among adolescents. This implies that self-instructional module is an effective tool for adolescents to improve their knowledge regarding prevention of obesity. (Tab: 2)

 

When comparing the pre test and post-test attitude the calculated value of‘t’ is greater than the tabulated value of ‘t’ at 5% level of significance. It shows that there is a significant difference between pre-test and post-test scores on attitude regarding prevention of obesity among adolescents. This implies that self-instructional module is an effective tool for adolescents to attain most favorable attitude regarding prevention of obesity. (Tab : 3)

Table-2 Comparison of pre-test and post-test scores on knowledge regarding prevention of obesity among adolescents

S. N	Aspects regarding prevention of obesity	Pre-test		Post-test		Calculated paired ‘t’ value	Tabulated value of ‘t’ at 5% level  of significance
		Mean	SD	Mean	SD
1	General information	5.9	1.73	10.96	1.11	17.40	2.045
2	Healthy food practices	4.2	1.07	7.26	0.87	13.17
3	Prevention and control of obesity	3.36	1.21	7.03	0.88	14.61
4	Overall knowledge	13.5	3.22	25.2	2.16	20.27

 

Table- 3 Comparison of pre-test and post-test scores on attitude regarding prevention of obesity among adolescents

 

Table- 4 Correlation co-efficient between knowledge and attitude regarding prevention of obesity among adolescents

 

When considering the correlation there is a moderately positive relation between knowledge and attitude regarding prevention of obesity among adolescents in pre-test (r=0.30) and post-test (r=0.32). It concludes that, if the adolescents have adequate knowledge regarding prevention of obesity, they will be able to attain most favorable attitude regarding prevention of obesity. (Tab:4). In concern with association there is a significant association between the Residential Area and the level of knowledge regarding prevention of obesity among adolescents.

 

 

 

DISCUSSION:

Guedes, Rocha, Silva, Carvalhal and Coelho, relate that the probability of being overweight was higher for children who engaged in paid work, whose parents had higher education levels, who had two or fewer siblings and who were in a high economic class.⁷ Ramesh et al. says that prevalence of obesity was higher among boys and higher among children from high and middle socioeconomic groups.⁸ A study by Kapil U et al showed that among children aged between 10-15 years obesity and overweight was 7.4% and 24.7% respectively in children of both sexes.⁹ This study shows an overall increasing age wise trend of the mean BMI in both sexes, which is similar to the study done by Agarwal KN et al among children aged between 5-18 years from different cities of India and also to the study done by Raman KM et al in Delhi school children aged between 5- 18 years.¹⁰

 

CONCLUSION:

The present study concluded that adolescent have less awareness regarding obesity so the education improves the knowledge and attitude of the adolescent. This makes them to understand the issues and the ways to prevent them. Countrywide awareness programs to spread healthy messages on good nutrition and good health for the prevention of obesity and its consequences need to be initiated. These shall not only promote good health, but shall also help in the prevention of non-communicable diseases as diabetes, heart problems, and other related diseases. On the long run, such programs shall act to reduce the burden on economic growth of the nation.

 

REFERENCE:

1.      Macmillan Dictionary for Students Macmillan, Pan Ltd., page 14, 456. Retrieved 2010-7-15.

2.      Lissau, M. D. Overpeck, W. J. Ruan, P. Due, B. E. Holstein, and M. L. Hediger, “Body mass index and overweight in adolescents in 13 European Countries, Israel, and the United States,” Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, vol. 158, no. 1, pp. 27–33, 2004.

3.      Chandrakala P., Soumya A, A study of prevalence of overweight and obesity in adolescents.   International Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics. 2016 Aug;3(3):960-964

4.      Bhave S, Bavdekar A, Otiv M. IAP National Task force for childhood prevention of adult diseases: Childhood obesity. Indian Paediatrics, 2004; 41:559-75.

5.      https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/physicalactivity/pdf/roleofschools_obesity.pdf

6.      Lobstein T, Baur L, Uauy R. Obesity in Children and Young People: A crisis in Public Health. Report to the WHO.  London : IASO International Obesity Task Force 2004.

7.      Dartagnan Pinto Guedes,Giselle Divino Rochaet al. Effects of social and environmental determinants on overweight and obesity among Brazilian schoolchildren from a developing region, Rev Panam Salud Publica 30(4), 2011

8.      Ramesh goyal et at. Prevalence of overweight and obesity in Indian adolescent school    going children: Its relationship with socioeconomic status and associated lifestyle factors, The Journal of the Association of Physicians of India, 58(3):151-8 · March 2010

9.      Kapil U, Singh P, Pathak P, Dwivedi SN, Bhasin S. Prevalence of obesity amongst affluent adolescent school children in delhi. Indian Pediatr. 2002; 39(5):449-52.

10.   Raman KM, Tandon N, Singh Y, Aggarwal R, Grewal K, Kalaivani. A study of growth parameters and prevalence of overweight and obesity in school children from Delhi. Indian Pediatrics. 2006; 43:943-52.

 

 

 

 

 

Received on 25.08.2018         Modified on 19.09.2018

Accepted on 05.10.2018      ©A&V Publications All right reserved