INTRODUCTION:

Waterborne diseases are conditions caused by pathogenic micro-organisms that are transmitted in water.¹These diseases can be spread while bathing, washing, drinking water, or by eating food exposed to contaminated water.² While diarrhea and vomiting are the most commonly reported symptoms of waterborne illness, other symptoms can include skin, ear, respiratory, or eye problems.³

Various forms of waterborne diarrheal disease are the most prominent examples, and affect children in developing countries most dramatically.⁴ According to the World Health Organization, waterborne diseases account for an estimated 3.6% of the total DALY (disability- adjusted life year) global burden of disease, and cause about 1.5 million human deaths annually.⁵

The World Health Organization estimates that 58% of that burden, or 842,000 deaths per year, is attributable to a lack of safe drinking water supply, sanitation and hygiene (summarized as WASH).⁶

The term waterborne disease is reserved largely for infections that predominantly are transmitted through contact with or consumption of infected water.⁷Trivially, many infections may be transmitted by microbes or parasites that accidentally, possibly as a result of exceptional circumstances, have entered the water, but the fact that there might be an occasional freak infection need not mean that it is useful to categories the resulting disease as "waterborne".⁸ Nor is it common practice to refer to diseases such as malaria as "waterborne" just because mosquitoes have aquatic phases in their life cycles, or because treating the water they inhabit happens to be an effective strategy in control of the mosquitoes that are the vectors.⁹ Long before modern studies had established the germ theory of disease, or any advanced understanding of the nature of water as a vehicle for transmitting disease, traditional beliefs had cautioned against the consumption of water.¹⁰

OBJECTIVES:

To assess the knowledge of mothers of under five children regarding prevention of water borne diseases.

To determine association between pretest posttest score selected demographic variable.

METHODOLOGY:

A quantitative approach was used for this study. The goal of quantitative approach is to collect data from mothers of under five children. The main goal of the present study is to assess the knowledge regarding prevention and management of water borne diseases among mothers of under five children.

Setting of the study:

The present study was conducted in a selected areas of mehsana for assessing the knowledge regarding prevention and management of water borne diseases among mothers of under five children.

Population:

In this study population comprises of mothers of under five children from selected areas of mehsana.

Sample:

All the mothers of under five children of the selected areas of mehsana were selected for assessment of knowledge regarding prevention and management of water borne diseases.

Sampling technique:

In this study simple random sampling technique was used to select the mothers of under five children for study.

Plan for data analysis:

It was decided to analyze the data by descriptive statistics on the basis of objectives and hypothesis of the study.¹⁰ Master data sheet would be prepared by the investigator to analyze the data. The data will be analyzed in terms of descriptive (mean, percentage, standard deviation, mean percentage).

Analysis:

Section I - Sample characteristics:

· Highest percentage (67%) of the subjects were in the age group of 21– 25 years

· Highest percentage (84%) of the subjects belonged to Hindu religion

· Many of (56 %) the subjects had nuclear family

· Highest percentage (82%) of the subjects were in the group of housewife

· Many (59%) of the subjects were completed primary education

Section II – assessment of the knowledge regarding prevention and management of water borne diseases:

· Knowledge regarding water borne diseases shows that out of total 6 score the sample had 3.53 mean score and 58.83% mean percentage.

· The knowledge regarding causes and risk factor of water borne diseases shows that out of total score 14, the sample had 10.01 mean score and 71.5% mean percentage

· The knowledge regarding prevention of water borne diseases shoes that out of total score 9, the sample had 6.14 mean and 68.22% mean percentage.

Conclusions:

The following conclusions were drawn on the basis of the findings of the study.

· Majority (65%) sample have average knowledge regarding water borne diseases management and prevention

· 19% samples have poor knowledge regarding water borne diseases management and prevention

· 16% sample have good knowledge regarding water borne diseases management and prevention

Recommendations:

On the basis of present study, the following recommendations are formed for future study:

A comparative study can be done between urban and rural area to assess the knowledge regarding prevention and management of water borne diseases.

A experimental study can be conduct after the implementation of health education to assess the knowledge and attitude of the mothers of under five children.

A descriptive study to assess the effectiveness of structured teaching programme on selected water borne diseases and their prevention among mothers of under five children in selected areas.

References:

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Received on 28.09.2020 Modified on 21.11.2020

Asian J. Nursing Education and Research. 2021; 11(3):381-383.

DOI: 10.52711/2349-2996.2021.00091