WORLD JOURNAL OF ADVANCE
HEALTHCARE RESEARCH

Gaurav Prajapat*, Narendra Pal Chaudhary, Mukesh Tetarwal

ABSTRACT

ABSTRACTWorm infestation is one of the major health problems in developing India. It mainly affects the children, which may deteriorate their health status. Through it affects the health badly, it is easily preventable. Hence, “A STUDY TO ASSESS THE KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICE REGARDING PREVENTION OF WORM INFESTATION AMONG THE MOTHERS OF SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN (6-12 YEARS) AT SELECTED RURAL AREA, JODHPUR”.OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY1. To assess the knowledge and practice regarding worm infestation among the mothers of school age children.2. To correlate the knowledge and practice of worm infestation among the mothers of school age children.3. To find out the association between the mothers’ knowledge on worm infestation and demographic variables.4. To find out the association between the mothers’ practice on worm infestation and demographic variable.METHODOLOGYThe research design adopted for the study was descriptive design and research approach adopted for this study was non experimental approach. The sample size was 100 mothers of school age children. The mothers were selected in at Jodhpur district, Rajasthan.Data was collected by using structured interview questionnaireThis consists of three sectionsSection A: Comprised of demographic dataSection B: Comprised of structured interview schedule on the knowledge regarding worm infestations, which had 30 items.Section C: Compromised of structured interview schedule regarding practice on worm infestations, which had 10 items. RESULTS? The maximum number of mothers 26% was in the age group of 31-35 years.? 30% of mothers had completed high school education.? Out of 100 mothers 63% were housewives.? 44% of the mothers monthly income of the family is between Rs.1001-5000/? 46% of mothers had two school age children.? 67% were consuming non vegetarian.? The maximum number 72% of families were practicing open field defecation.? 65% of the families do not have pet animals.? Maximum number of mothers 52% acquired information about worm infestation from mass media.? Assessment of level of knowledge of mothers regarding worm infestation among school age children showed that majority 42% had moderately adequate knowledge, minority 19% had adequate knowledge and remaining 39% of mothers have inadequate knowledge. Overall mean knowledge score was 12.96 (SD=3.337).? Assessment of level of practice of mothers regarding worm infestation among school age children revealed that majority 44% were fair practice and minority 25% were poor practice and remaining 31% of mothers were good practice of prevention of worm infestation. Overall mean practice score was 5.47 (SD=2.258).? The correlation between the knowledge and practice regarding worm infestation r=0.8829 showed that there was a highly significant positive correlation. It means when the knowledge increases their practice also increases highly.? There was a statistically significant association found between level of knowledge and demographic variables such as educational qualification of the mothers (p=0.0003), source of information (p=0.0029) regarding worm infestation.? There was a statistically significant association found between level of practice and demographic variables such as educational qualification of the mothers (p=0.0001), source of information (p=0.0031) regarding worm infestation? Research hypothesis stated were accepted. CONCLUSIONThe present study assessed the knowledge and practice of mothers regarding worm infestation among school age children. The result revealed that majority 42% of the mothers moderately adequate knowledge regarding worm infestation and 44% of them had fair practice towards prevention of worm infestations. Demographic variables have influence on the knowledge and practice of mother regarding worm infestation among the school age children. There is a positive relation between knowledge and practice regarding worm infestation among the school age children.