Assess the Knowledge regarding importance of Micronutrients among Mothers of under Five Children in a selected Hospital, Thrissur with a view to prepare an Information Booklet
Prof. Dr. Nandini M1, Mrs. Divya T.N.2,
Ms. Adeena Marry Job3, Ms. Amala. P. Simon3,
Ms. Anet Anto3, Ms. Anjali N. P3, Ms. Athira Rajesh3,
Ms. Jisna Babu3, Ms. Melby K.M.3,
Ms. Nivya K.B.3
1Vice Principal, HOD, Dept. of Child Health Nursing, Aswini College of Nursing, Thrissur.
2Assistant Professor, Dept. of Child Health Nursing, Aswini College of Nursing, Thrissur.
3Final Year Students, Aswini College of Nursing, Thrissur.
*Corresponding Author Email: researchgp32020@gmail.com
ABSTRACT:
Micronutrients deficiency is one of the major problem commonly seen in children below 5 years of age. The present descriptive study focuses on assessing the level of knowledge regarding importance of micronutrients among mothers of under five children in a selected hospital, Thrissur with a view to prepare an information booklet. The study also aimed, to associate the level of knowledge regarding the importance of micronutrients among mothers of under five children with selected demographic variables. This study was conducted among 60 mothers, who were selected by convenience sampling technique, by using a structured knowledge questionnaire regarding importance of micronutrients. Following that the investigators prepared and distributed an information booklet regarding the importance of micronutrients. The findings revealed that 40(70%) of mothers possessed moderate knowledge, whereas 17(25%) had inadequate knowledge and 3(5%) of the mothers had adequate knowledge regarding the importance of micronutrients among under five children. The analysis showed that there is no association between level of knowledge of mothers regarding the importance of micronutrients among under five children with their selected demographic variables.
KEYWORDS: Mother's of under-five children; micronutrients; knowledge; information booklet.
INTRODUCTION:
Child survival is a very sensitive indicator of population, growth and socio-economic development. Every year about 26 million children are born in our country1. Micronutrient deficiency is hidden hunger which is mostly affecting under five children. Mothers knowledge regarding the importance of micronutrients among under five children is the main measure to control its severity.
Many studies revealed that majority of the mothers were having only moderate or inadequate knowledge importance of micronutrients. Inadequate knowledge importance of micronutrients is considered as an important risk for the development of micronutrient deficiency diseases among under-five children.
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM:
A study to assess the knowledge regarding importance of micronutrients among mothers of under five children in a selected hospital, Thrissur with a view to prepare an information booklet.
OBJECTIVES:
1. To assess the level of knowledge of mothers regarding the importance of micronutrients among under five children.
2. To associate the level of knowledge regarding the importance of micronutrients among mothers of under five children with their selected demographic variables.
3. To prepare and distribute an information booklet on importance of micronutrients.
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY:
Research approach:
A quantitative approach was considered to assess the knowledge of mothers.
Research design:
Non experimental descriptive survey design.
Setting of the study:
The present study was conducted at 5 Pediatric OPDs in Aswini Hospital, Thrissur.
Population of the study:
For the present study, all the mothers belong to Thrissur District is considered as the target population, where as, the accessible population comprised of all the mothers who are attending the pediatric OPDs of Aswini Hospital, Thrissur.
Sample and Sampling technique:
In the present study, 60 samples were selected by convenience sampling method.
DATA ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION:
This section presents the analysis and interpretation of data collected from 60 mothers.
The analysis of the study is presented in 3 sections.
SECTION A: Description of demographic profile of mothers of under five children N = 60
Figure 1: Percentage distribution of mothers of under five children according to education.
SECTION B: Description on assessment of level of knowledge of mothers of under five children regarding importance of micronutrients
Table 1: Frequency and percentage distribution of knowledge score of mothers of under five children regarding the importance of micronutrients N=60
|
Level of knowledge |
Scoring Range |
Frequency (n) |
Percentage (%) |
|
Inadequate knowledge |
0-08 |
17 |
25 |
|
Moderate knowledge |
09-16 |
40 |
70 |
|
Adequate knowledge |
17-24 |
03 |
05 |
SECTION C: Description on association of knowledge score of mothers regarding the importance of micronutrients among under five children with their selected demographic variables.
Table 2: Association between the level of knowledge of mothers on the importance of micronutrients among under five children with their selected demographic variables such as religion of mother and education N=60
|
Sl No |
Demographic variables |
Level of knowledge |
Statistical value |
||
|
Inadequate |
Moderate |
Adequate |
|||
|
1 |
Religion |
|
|
|
χ2 = 0.59ns
TV = 3.8415 |
|
|
a. Hindu |
11 |
29 |
01 |
|
|
|
b. Christian |
06 |
10 |
00 |
|
|
|
c. Muslim |
01 |
02 |
00 |
|
|
2 |
Education |
|
|
|
χ2 = 1.45ns
TV = 5.9915 |
|
|
a. Primary |
00 |
01 |
00 |
|
|
|
b. Secondary |
02 |
02 |
00 |
|
|
|
c. Higher secondary education |
02 |
03 |
00 |
|
|
|
d. Graduate |
10 |
21 |
01 |
|
|
|
e. Post graduate |
04 |
14 |
00 |
|
ns - non significant at 0.05 level
With reference to religion, the calculated Chi – square value is 0.59 and table value is 3.84, and in relation to education, the calculated Chi – square value is 1.45 and table value is 5.99, both are non-significant at 0.05 level. Hence the research hypothesis is rejected and null hypothesis is accepted.
DISCUSSION:
With regard to the first objective, the present study findings revealed that among 60 mothers, 17(25%) mothers had inadequate knowledge, 40(70%) mothers had moderate knowledge and 3(5%) mothers had adequate knowledge regarding the importance of micronutrients among under five children.
With relation to the second objective, the result showed that, there was no significant association between knowledge of mothers with selected demographic variables.
With regard to the third objective, an information booklet on the importance of micronutrients among under five children, was prepared by the investigators, in the regional language and distributed to all the samples as well as all the mothers who attended the Pediatric OPDs of Aswini Hospital and their doubts were clarified by the investigators.
CONCLUSION:
Micronutrient deficiency is hidden hunger which is mostly affecting under five children. Mothers knowledge regarding the importance of micronutrients among under five children is the main measure to control its severity. From this study, it is clearly evident that majority of the mothers had inadequate knowledge regarding the importance of micronutrients among under five children. So the nurses must take the responsibility to disseminate the importance of practicing preventive measures.
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Received on 28.02.2022 Modified on 16.04.2022
Accepted on 03.06.2022 ©A&V Publications All right reserved
Asian J. Nursing Education and Research. 2022; 12(4):399-401.
DOI: 10.52711/2349-2996.2022.00084