http://doi.org/10.33698/NRF0132 -Poonam Sheoran, Molly Babu, Kaipana Mandal, Kanika Rai
Abstract :The child is the father of man and future of the nation. The health of the child depends on the mother who bears him/ her. Birth weight is a reflection of maternal health and as such is an indicator of health status of a population. The lower the birth weight, the greater is the chance of death. An evaluative research approach with nonequivalent comparison group pre-test and post- test design was utilized in the present study to evaluate the effectiveness of planned health education programme regarding risk factors and care of low birth weight babies in terms of knowledge and practice of mothers. The study was conducted in Safdarjung hospital, Delhi. To prevent the contamination of experimental and comparison group, two separate NICUs were taken. The population comprised of all the mothers of low birth weight babies admitted in NICU and a sample of 60 mothers was selected using purposive sampling technique with 30 mothers each in Experimental and Comparison group. The tools developed for the study were a structured interview schedule for knowledge and observation checklist for practice of mothers. A planned health education programme regarding risk factors and care of low birth weight baby was developed. Pre test was administered on day one for both experimental and control group and planned health education was given only to the mothers of experimental group after pretest on the same day but it was not given to the comparison group. Post test was conducted on seventh day for both the groups. The data revealed that the mean post test knowledge and practice score of experimental group were significantly higher than the mean post test knowledge and practice score of comparison group. The post test computed r value (0.714) was significantly higher than pretest computed r value (0.138) of experimental group at 0.05 level of significance, indicating a strong positive relationship between post test knowledge and practice scores. Thus it was concluded that the teaching programme was effective in enhancing the knowledge as well as practice of mothers regarding risk factors and care of low birth weight babies.
Key words :
Low birth weight babies, Planned Health Education Programme, Knowledge, Practice, Mothers
Correspondence at : Poonam Sheoran
Assistant Professor, M.M.College of Nursing, Mullana, Ambala
Introduction
The new born health challenge faced by India is bigger than that experienced by any other country. Each year, 20 percent of the world’s infant – about 26 million – are born in this vast and diverse country. The current state of neonatal health in India is indeed dismal to state the least. Three neonates are dying every minute in India and every 4th baby born is low birth weight. The current neonatal mortality rate (NMR) is 43 per 1000 live birth accounts for nearly two – thirds of all infant mortality and half of under five child mortality. Over one third of all neonatal deaths occur on the first day of life, almost half with in three days, and nearly three fourth in the first week.1
The World Health Organization has defined the term “Low birth weight” as birth weight less than 2500 grams. 2 As per this definition, babies with a birth weight less than 2,500 grams are classified as “Low birth weight”, irrespective of the duration of the gestational period. Newborns with a birth weight (for gestational age) of less than the 10th percentile are categorized as “small for date” (SFD).
According to UNICEF, the incidence of LBW neonates is 30% in India. Low birth weight neonates are further classified as very low bir th weight (VLBW <1500 g) and extremely low bir th weight (ELBW <1000 g) infants. Majority of LBW neonates in our country weigh between 2000-2499 g.
According to the National Neonatal Perinatal Database of the National Neonatology Forum, India; the incidence of LBW in tertiary care centers is 32.8 percent with only 14% neonates weighing less than 2000 g. Around eight million LBW infants are born each year and around three fourth of them are delivered at full term of gestation. This shows that the major low birth weight problem in India stems from intra uterine growth retardation and not pre maturity, in contrast to the western world.3
LBW is the most significant factor contributing to neonatal mor tality and morbidity. These neonates are at higher risk of asphyxia, sepsis, hypothermia, and feeding problems, etc. Common illnesses tend to be more severe and last longer in this group. Apar t from immediate problems, LBW neonates are prone to long term disorders like infections, malnutrition, and neuro- developmental disabilities. Babies who are small or disproportionate at birth also have an increased risk of developing coronary heart disease, non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus, stroke, and hypertension during adult life. 4
Maternal malnutrition and anemia are the most impor tant causes responsible for reduced birth weight in developing nations. Other maternal factors playing a par t include young age at conception, multiple pregnancies, pregnancy induced hypertension, infections, substance abuse etc. Genetic factors also play a role.5
The reduction of low birth weight forms an important contribution to the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) for reducing child mortality. Activities towards the achievement of the MDGs will need to ensure a healthy start in life for children by making certain that women commence pregnancy healthy and well nourished, and go through pregnancy and childbir th safely. Low bir th weight is therefore an impor tant indicator for monitoring progress towards this internationally agreed-upon goals.6
A parent education programme is of great necessity and must never be over looked. It should always be considered in the overall planning of new born services. As far as possible, mothers should be allowed and encouraged to visit their babies and touch them while they are in an incubator. As soon as it is safe, the mother may begin in a limited way to care for the infant. At this time carefully planned instructions, may be given to her in feeding, bathing, dressing and other necessary information concerning the baby.7
It was stated that in order to meet the emotional needs of the mothers of the babies in the NICU time should be set aside by nursing staff for parental counseling which should include providing information about baby’s condition, reassurance and answering questions of the parents regarding care of the baby. Attention should be devoted to teaching the mother about the special needs of their babies and prepare them better for care following discharge.8
Parents need information to help them navigate the NICU experience, and that the information needs to change during the course of experience, leading the parents to information they need to care for infant at home. These evidence based nursing interventions have been found to be important in reducing stress and anxiety and in improving maternal confidence in care giving9
Ignorant parents can cause harm to the children. A report suggest that children whose mothers have no education are more than twice as likely to die before their 1st birthday than children whose mothers have completed at least 10 yrs. of school age. Therefore, an education programme should be developed to enhance the knowledge of the parents regarding the prevention and care. 10 It was suggested that helping parents to be competent caregivers is essential, and helping mothers to understand their infant’s behavior and responsiveness seems to be the key in suppor ting maternal confidence in care giving.11
Thus keeping in view the current magnitude, incidence and factors predisposing the low bir th weight , lack of knowledge of mothers regarding these factors and care of low birth weight baby, different strategy of teaching and personnel clinical experience, the investigator felt the need to plan, conduct and evaluate a planned health teaching programme to enhance the knowledge and to improve the practices of mothers of low bir th weight babies on risk factors and care of low birth weight baby in order to help reducing the neonatal and infant morbidity and mortality.
Objectives
The objectives of the study were:
- To develop the planned health education programme on risk factors and care of low birth weight babies for
- To assess the knowledge as well as practice of mothers regarding risk factors and care of low birth weight baby before and after the administration of planned health education
- To determine the relationship between knowledge and practice of mothers regarding risk factors and care of low birth weight
- To identify the relationship between post test knowledge and practice scores with selected socio demographic
Material and Methods
The conceptual framework adopted for the study was based on Stufflebeam’s CIPP (Context, Input, Process, and Product) model.
The research approach adopted for the study was Evaluative Quasi-experimental research approach with pre test post test comparison group design.
Dependent Variables: Knowledge and practices of mothers regarding risk factors and care of low birth weight babies.
Independent Variable: Planned health education programme on risk factors and care of low birth weight babies.
The study was conducted in NICUs of Safdarjung Hospital, Delhi and a sample of 60 mothers of low bir th weight babies were selected using purposive sampling technique with 30 mothers each in Experimental and Comparison group. To prevent the contamination of experimental and comparison group, two separate NICU were taken.Formal administrative permission was obtained from the Medical Superintendent of the selected hospital to conduct to study in selected NICUs of the hospital. Final study was conducted from 21st December, 2008 to 20th January, 2009.
Instruments: A structured interview schedule for knowledge and observation checklist for practice was used for collection of data. Structured interview schedule consisted of two sections: Section I: Personal data contains 10 items including age, religion, no. of children, type of family, educational qualification of mother, occupation, Family income, previous experience of low bir th weight baby, sex of baby, Any habits of mother Section II: It comprises of 45 knowledge items and was arranged in two parts. Part A consists of 20 true / false items, and part B contains 25 multiple choice items with one correct answer. Every correct answer was awarded a score of 1 point and every wrong answer was assigned a 0 score. Maximum score was 45.
Observation checklist comprised 25 items in four areas including prevention of infection, maintenance of temperature, nutrition and emotional care. A score of 1 was given if mother performed the correct practice and if not done correctly a score of 0 was given. Maximum score was 25. Intervention: A planned health education programme regarding risk factors and care of low bir th weight baby was developed.
The tools developed and used for data collection were based on the extensive review of research and non research literature, consultation with experts and investigator’s personal experience. The content outline of planned teaching programme covered nine main areas including definitions, risk factors associated with low birth weight, prevention of low birth weight, difference between low birth weight and normal neonate, some facts about low birth weight babies, problems of low birth weight babies, care of low birth weight babies, warning signs and follow up care.
The content validity of the tools was established by nine experts, including six experts in different fields of nursing education and clinical experts in pediatrics, community and obstetrical nursing and three from Neonatology. A few changes were made according to their suggestions, considering the practicability.
The tool and planned health education programme was translated to Hindi by Hindi translator, which was then validated by a subject expert. Audio visual aids were also validated based on adequacy, appropriateness, illustrative ness, easiness to follow etc. and based on their suggestions, changes were made accordingly. The reliability co-efficient for structured knowledge questionnaire was calculated using Kuder Richardson- 20 formula and for observation checklist by using Inter observer reliability by Rank Difference Method and the results were 0.89 and 0.78 respectively. Thus the structured knowledge questionnaire and observation checklist were found to be significantly reliable.
After selecting the study sample on the basis of inclusion criteria, purpose of the study was explained to the group and confidentiality of their responses was assured. The subjects were divided into experimental and comparison groups based on the selected NICUs of the hospital. Pre- test was administered on day one to both experimental and comparison groups. Planned health education programme was administered to the mothers of experimental group after pretest, using charts and flash cards on risk factors and care of low birth weight babies. At the end of teaching, the mothers were asked to clarify any doubts they had. The comparison group was not given the planned health education programme by the investigator. Post test was conducted on seventh day for both groups.
Results
Sample Characteristics
15 (50 %) of the sample subjects in the experimental group and 13 (43.3%) of the sample subjects in the comparison group were in the age group of 21 – 25 yrs. 16 (53.3%) of the mothers in experimental group and 13 (43.3%) of the mothers in comparison group had one baby. 8 (26.6%) of the subjects in the experimental group were secondary school passed where as 12 (40 %) of the subjects of comparison group were having no formal education.
Table 1: Socio-Demographic Profile of Mothers in both the Groups N = 60
| Sample Characteristics | Experimental | Comparison | X2 df | P |
| Group (n = 30) | group (n = 30) | |||
| Frequency (%) | Frequency (%) | |||
| AGE | ||||
| Below 20 yrs. | 8 (26.6 %) | 04 (13.3 %) | X2 = 7.815 | |
| 21 – 25 yrs. | 15 (50 %) | 13 (43.3 %) | df=3 | 3.74 |
| 26 – 30 yrs. | 05 (16.6 %) | 08 (26.6 %) | ||
| 31 – 35 yrs. | 02 (6.66 %) | 05 (16.6 %) | ||
| RELIGION | ||||
| Hindu. | 27 (90 %) | 23 (76.6 %) | X2 = 5.991 | |
| Muslim. | 03 (10 %) | 05 (16.6 %) | df=2 | 2.82 |
| Sikh. | 0 | 02 (6.66%) | ||
| NO. OF CHILDREN | ||||
| One. | 16 (53.3 %) | 13 (43.3 %) | X2 = 5.991 | |
| Two. | 08 (26.6 %) | 09 (30 %) | df=2 | 0.65 |
| Three. | 06 (20 %) | 08 (26.6 %) | ||
| TYPE OF FAMILY | ||||
| Nuclear. | 18 (60%) | 24 (80%) | X2 = 3.841 | 2.86 |
| Joint. | 12 (40%) | 06 (20%) | df=1 | |
| EDUCATION | ||||
| No formal education | 07 (23.3 %) | 12 (40 %) | X2 = 11.070 | 5.26 |
| Primary. | 04 (13.3%) | 04 (13.3 %) | df=5 | |
| Secondary. | 08 (26.6 %) | 05 (16.6 %) | ||
| Matric. | 05 (16.6 %) | 04 (13.3 %) | ||
| Higher secondary. | 03 (10 %) | 0 | ||
| Graduate or above. | 03 (10 %) | 05 (16.6 %) | ||
| ECONOMIC STATUS | ||||
| Low | 22 (73.31%) | 18 (60 %) | X2 = 3.841 | 1.2 |
| High. | 08 (26.6%) | 12 (40 %) | df=1 | |
| SEX OF THE BABY | N=35 | |||
| Male. | 19 (63.3 %) | 20 (66.6 %) | X2 = 3.841 | 1.03 |
| Female. | 16 (53.3 %) | 10 (33.3 %) | df=1 | |
| NS: non significant |
All subjects i.e. 30 (100%) in both experimental and comparison groups were house wives. Majority of the subjects, i.e. 23 (76.6%) from experimental group and 27 (90%) from comparison group had no previous experience of care of low bir th weight babies.
Demographic characteristics of both the experimental and comparison groups were comparable in terms of their age, religion, no. of children, type of family, education, occupation, economic status, previous experience of care of baby and the sex of baby.
The data presented in Table 2 shows that the mean post test knowledge score (38.48) of experimental group was higher than their mean pre test knowledge score (24.20) with a mean difference of 14.28. The ‘t’ value of 15.69 for df 29 was found to be statistically significant at 0.05 level. This shows that the obtained mean difference of 14.28, was a true difference and not by chance. Similarly the mean post test practice score (18.65) of experimental group was higher than their mean pre test practice score (13.66) with a mean difference of 4.99. The ‘t’ value of 20.08 for df 29 was found to be statistically significant at 0.05 and at 0.01 level. This shows that the obtained mean difference of 4.99, was a true difference and not by chance. Thus, it can be inferred that the planned health education programme on risk factors and care of low birth weight babies was effective in enhancing the knowledge as well as practice of mothers regarding risk factors and care of low birth weight babies.
Table 2: Comparison of Knowledge and Practice Scores of mothers regarding risk factors and Care of Low Birth Weight Babies in Experimental Groups N = 30
| Experimental group |
Mean |
MeanD |
Knowledge scores SDD |
SEMD |
‘t’ test |
| Pre test | 24.20 | 14.28 | 4.88 | .892 | 15.69* |
| Post test | 38.48 | ||||
| Practice scores | |||||
| Pre test | 13.66 | 4.99 | 1.36 | 0.248 | 20.08* |
| Post test | 18.65 |
P(29)=2.04, p<0.05
*Significant
The data presented in table 3 shows that the mean pre test knowledge score of comparison group (22.30) was lower than the mean pre test knowledge score of experimental group (24.20) with a mean difference of 1.90. This mean difference was not found to be statistically significant as evident from the ‘t’ value of 1.77 for df 58 at 0.05 level of significance.
Table 3: Comparison of Pre-Test Knowledge and Practice Scores of Experimental and
| Comparison Group | N = 60 | |
| Groups |
Mean |
Pre test knowledge scores MeanD SEMD ‘t’ test |
| Experimental (n=30) | 24.20 | 1.90 1.078 1.77NS |
| Comparison (n=30) | 22.30 | |
| Pre test practice scores | ||
| Experimental (n=30) | 13.66 | 0.92 0.52 1.76NS |
| Comparison (n=30) | 12.74 |
t (58)= 2.00 , p>0.05
NS – Not Significant
Furthermore, the mean pre test practice scores of comparison group (12.74) was lower than the mean pre test practice score of experimental group (13.66) with a mean difference of 0.92. This mean difference was not found to be statistically significant as evident from the ‘t’ value of 1.769 for df 58 at 0.05 level of significance. This indicates that initially mothers in both the groups i.e. comparison group and experimental group did not differ in their level of knowledge as well as practices regarding risk factors and care of low birth weight baby respectively.
The data presented in Table 4 shows that the mean post test knowledge score (38.48) of experimental group were higher than the mean post test knowledge score (24.30) of comparison group with a mean difference of 14.18. This obtained mean difference was found to be statistically significant as evident from ‘t’ value of 19.58 for df 58 at 0.05 level of significance. Also the mean post test practice score (18.65) of experimental group was higher than the mean post test practice score (13.50) of comparison group with a mean difference of 5.15. This obtained mean difference was found to be statistically significant as evident from ‘t’ value of 20.6 for df 58 at 0.05 level of significance. So the difference obtained is a true difference and not by chance. Hence it can be inferred that the planned health education programme was effective in enhancing the knowledge and improving the practices of mothers regarding risk factors and care of low bir th weight babies.
Table 4: Comparison of post test Knowledge and Practice Scores of Experimental and
| Comparison Group | N | = 60 | |
| Groups |
Mean |
Post test knowledge scores MeanD SEMD |
‘t’ test |
| Experimental (n=30) | 38.48 | 14.18 0.724 | 19.58* |
| Comparison (n=30) | 24.30 | ||
| Post test practice scores | |||
| Experimental (n=30) | 18.65 | 5.15 0.25 | 20.6* |
| Comparison (n=30) | 13.50 |
t(58)=2.00 , p<0.05 *Significant
The data presented in table 5 indicates that in experimental group the lowest pre test percentage score (30.6) was in area of maintenance of temperature and highest pre test mean percentage score (72.5) was in the area of emotional care, whereas, in comparison group the lowest pre test percentage score (39.2) was in area of maintenance of temperature and highest pre test mean percentage score (66.5) was in the area of emotional care. (The area with the lowest mean percentage scores indicates the highest deficit area and with the highest mean percentage scores indicates the lowest deficit area). The mean percentage scores of post test in experimental group indicate the practices in all areas are higher than the mean percentage scores in the pre test.
Table 5: Area Wise Mean and Mean Percentage Scores of Practice for Experimental and Comparison Group N = 60
| Groups | Area | Max. Score | Pre test Mean score | Mean % scores | Post test mean score | Mean % scores | Mean % gain |
| Experimental group | A Prevention of infection | 4 | 2.30 | 57.5 | 3.06 | 76.5 | 19 |
| ( n = 30) | B Maintenance of Temperature | 5 | 1.53 | 30.6 | 3.58 | 71.6 | 41 |
| C Nutrition | 12 | 6.76 | 56.3 | 8.60 | 71.6 | 15.3 | |
| D Emotional care | 4 | 2.90 | 72.5 | 3.21 | 80.2 | 7.75 | |
| Comparison group | A Prevention of infection | 4 | 2.46 | 61.5 | 2.65 | 66.25 | 4.75 |
| ( n = 30) | B Maintenance of Temperature | 5 | 1.96 | 39.2 | 2.18 | 43.60 | 4.40 |
| C Nutrition | 12 | 5.30 | 44.1 | 5.98 | 49.80 | 5.73 | |
| D Emotional care | 4 | 2.66 | 66.5 | 2.66 | 66.50 | 0.00 |
The data suggested that in experimental group the maximum mean percentage gain (41) was in area of maintenance of temperature and lowest mean percentage gain ( 7.75) was in the area of emotional care. Where as in comparison group, maximum mean percentage gain (5.73) was in area of nutrition and minimum mean percentage gain was in area of emotional care with no gain at all. This indicates that the planned health education programme was effective in enhancing the practices of mothers regarding care of low birth weight babies.
The data presented and shown in table 6 reveals that among the experimental group the maximum gain has been in the area of maintenance of temperature (0.59) and minimum gain has been in the area of emotional care (0.28) as indicated by the modified practice scores. However, there is gain in all the areas of practice regarding care of low bir th weight babies indicating the effectiveness of planned health education programme on the same.
Table 6: Mean Actual Gain and Modified Gain of Practice Scores of Pre Test and Post Test Obtained by Experimental and Comparison Groups N = 60
| Groups | Area | Max. Score | Pre test Mean score | Post test mean score | Actual Gain Score | Possible gain Score | Modified gain Score |
| Experimental Group | A Prevention of infection | 4 | 2.30 | 3.06 | 0.76 | 1.70 | 0.44 |
| n = 30 | B Maintenance of Temperature | 5 | 1.53 | 3.58 | 2.05 | 3.47 | 0.59 |
| C Nutrition | 12 | 6.76 | 8.60 | 1.84 | 5.24 | 0.35 | |
| D Emotional care | 4 | 2.90 | 3.21 | 0.31 | 1.10 | 0.28 | |
| Comparison Group | A Prevention of infection | 4 | 2.46 | 2.65 | 0.19 | 1.54 | 0.12 |
| n = 30 | B Maintenance of Temperature | 5 | 1.96 | 2.18 | 0.22 | 3.04 | 0.07 |
| C Nutrition | 12 | 5.30 | 5.98 | 0.68 | 6.70 | 0.10 | |
| D Emotional care | 4 | 2.66 | 2.66 | 0.00 | 1.34 | 0.00 |
The findings in table 7 shows that the coefficient of correlation between pre test knowledge scores and practice scores (0.138) suggesting a very low correlation between pre test knowledge and practice. The computed “r” value (0.138) indicates that the positive correlation between the pre test knowledge scores and practice scores is not significant at 0.05 level. The data further reveals that coefficient of correlation between post test knowledge and practice scores is 0.714 indicating a significant positive relationship between post test knowledge and practice scores of experimental group at 0.05 level. Thus, the planned health education programme on risk factors and care of low birth weight babies was effective in enhancing the knowledge and improving practice of mothers regarding the same.
Table 7: Correlation between Knowledge and Practice Scores of Experimental Group
N= 30
| Mean | SD | Mean | SD | ||
| Pre test | 24.20 | 4.54 | 13.66 | 1.97 | 0.138 |
| Post test | 38.48 | 2.31 | 18.65 | 1.21 | 0.714* |
Test Knowledge Scores Practice Scores r
r (28)=0.361 *Significant at 0.05 level NS = Not Significant
Data given in Table 8 shows that chi square computed between gain in post test knowledge score and age (6.126) and economic status ( 4.029) were found to be statistically significant at 0.05 level. This indicates that gain in post test knowledge
Table 8: Chi Square Value Showing Relationship between Gain in Post Test Knowledge Scores of Experimental Group and Selected Factors N = 30
| S.no. Selected Variables Knowledge Below median | scores Above median | Tabulated Value | df | Chi- Square |
| f (%) | f (%) | |||
| 1. Age | ||||
| Below 20 yrs. 4(50) | 4(50) | |||
| 21 – 25 yrs. 10(67) | 5 (34) | 5.991 | 2 | 6.126* |
| 26 – 30 yrs. 0(00) | 5(100) | |||
| 31- 35 yrs 1(50) | 1(50) | |||
| 2. Education | ||||
| No formal education 3(43) | 4(57) | |||
| Primary 4(33) | 8(67) | 7.815 | 3 | 0.632NS |
| Metric 2(40) | 3(60) | |||
| Higher secondary & above 3(50) | 3(50) | |||
| 3. Economic status | ||||
| Low 10(45) | 12(55) | 3.841 | 1 | 4.029* |
| High 3(37.5) | 5(62.5) | |||
| 4. Parity | ||||
| One 9(56) | 7(44) | |||
| Two 2(25) | 6(75) | 5.991 | 2 | 5.021NS |
| Three 1(17) | 5(83) | |||
| * Significant at 0.05 level NS non significant |
score of experimental group of mothers was significantly associated with their age and economic status. This shows that mothers from age group 21 – 30 and mothers with low socio economic status gained more in knowledge scores. Whereas, computed chi square value between gain in post test knowledge scores of experimental group and education (0.632), Parity (5.02) were not found to be statistically significant. This shows that there was no significant association between mothers gain in post test knowledge score of experimental group and their education and parity. It means mother’s gain in knowledge score of experimental group is independent of their education and parity.
Data given in Table 9 shows that chi square computed between gain in post test practice scores and parity (7.06) and economic status (4.029) were found to be statistically significant at 0.05 level. This indicates that gain in post test score of experimental group of mothers was significantly associated with their parity and economic status. This shows that mothers with low economic status and having one baby improved more in practice scores.
Table 9: Chi Square Value Showing Relationship between Gain in Post Test Practice Scores of Experimental Group and Selected Factors N = 30
| Selected Variables | Practice Below median | scores
Above median |
Tabulated Value | df | Chi- Square |
| f (%) | f (%) | ||||
| Age
Below 20 yrs. |
5(62.5) |
3(37.5) |
|||
| 21 – 25 yrs. | 5(33) | 10(67) | 5.991 | 2 | 1.81 |
| 26 – 35 yrs. | 3(43) | 4(57) | |||
| Education
No formal education |
3(43) |
4(57) |
|||
| Primary | 5(38) | 7(62) | 7.815 | 3 | 0.28 |
| Metric | 3(60) | 2(40) | |||
| Higher secondary & above | 2(33) | 4(67) | |||
| Economic Status
Low |
9(41) |
13(59) |
|||
| High | 4(50) | 4(50) | 3.841 | 1 | 4.02* |
| Parity
One |
9(56) |
7(44) |
|||
| Two | 2(25) | 6(75) | 5.991 | 2 | 7.06* |
| Three | 3(50) | 3(50) | |||
| * Significant at 0.05 level |
Whereas, computed chi square value between gain in post test practice scores of experimental group and education (0.289), age (1.81) were not found to be statistically significant. This shows that there was no significant association between mothers gain in post test practice scores of experimental group and their education and age. It means mother’s gain in practice score of experimental group was independent of their education and age.
Discussion
There are many studies done to assess the effectiveness of planned health education programme on knowledge and practice of subjects about management of various disease conditions and various aspects of care of LBW for nursing personnel but, studies related to effectiveness of teaching programme on risk factors and care of low birth weight babies for mothers are scanty. Investigator was not able to locate any study related to the health education on risk factors of LBW for mothers.
In this study pre test knowledge and practice scores of mothers showed lack of knowledge and practice regarding risk factors and care of low birth weight babies in both experimental and comparison group. These findings were consistent with the findings of Mali P and Kaur H where deficiency of knowledge in all areas of care of low bir th weight infant was repor ted and where mothers expressed the need for the instructions regarding the care of low birth weight infant 12, 13.
Knowledge and practice scores in the pre test for both experimental and comparison group indicated that initially they did not differ in their level of knowledge and practice. But after the administration of planned health education programme, the mothers belonging to the experimental group obtained significantly higher scores in the knowledge and practice tests. The planned health education programme was found to be an effective strategy in increasing the knowledge and practice of mothers. These findings were consistent with the findings of Adachi Y et al where intervention programme was found to be effective in enhancing the practices of mothers regarding adopting favorable sleep pattern in infants14 and another study reported that planned teaching programme enhanced the knowledge of parents regarding family centered care15. Similarly a study reported was undertaken where counseling programe was found to be effective in enhancing the knowledge It is concluded that Planned health education programme on risk factors and care of low birth weight babies was found to be an effective strategy in enhancing the knowledge and practice of mothers regarding the same. There was a significant positive correlation between post test knowledge and practice scores of the mothers of experimental group regarding care of low bir th weight babies. Hence it is recommended that nursing personnel should plan teaching programme for parents in order to enhance their ability as dependent care agent.There should be provision of reading materials like journals, procedure books, manuals, text books, flip char ts, pictorials in the depar tment for updating the knowledge of nursing personnel and providing effective health education to mothers.
It is further recommended that the study can be replicated on a larger sample to validate the findings and to make generalization. A follow up study can be conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of planned health education programme in enhancing the knowledge and practice of mothers regarding risk factors and care of low birth weight babies.
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