A Study to Assess the Effectiveness of Planned Teaching Programme Regarding Nail Clipping and Hand Washing for Prevention of Intestinal Parasites among School Children (6-12yrs) in Selected Schools of Kota Village, Udupi District

Abstract

Parasitic infections especially intestinal parasites are considered as a common disease in developing countries and in resource limited regions of the world. Globally about 3.5 billion people are affected and 450 million complain as a result of those infects. Most commonly pre-schoolers, school aged children are affected with these infections. So it is extremely important to make aware about the nail clipping and hand washing for the prevention of intestinal parasites among school going children aged 6-12 years. The study aimed to assess the knowledge and provide planned teaching programme regarding hand washing and nail clipping for prevention of intestinal parasites among school going children. Evaluative approach, pre-experimental one group-pre-test and post-test design was used. Data was collected from 40 school going children selected by using non-probability purposive convenient sampling technique. During pre-test, self-administered knowledge questionnaire was given to children and knowledge was assessed. A planned teaching programme was then carried out by the researcher and a self-administered knowledge questionnaire again was administered to assess the post-test knowledge. The present study results showed that an overall increase in the knowledge score was observed after planned teaching programme, with mean knowledge score of 17.6. The Paired ‘t’ test showed that there was a significant overall increase in knowledge scores which was tested at 5% level (p <0.05). Chi Square analysis showed that there was a statistically significant association between knowledge scores and socio-demographic variables such as gender (χ2=10.03, p>0.05), education (χ2=13.35, p>0.05).