Assessing the Effectiveness of a Structured Teaching Programme on Knowledge of Worm Infestation and Prevention Among Mothers of Under-Five Children within a Selected Rural Area of Kuppam, Chittoor District, AP

Children residing in low and middle-income nations remain predominantly afflicted by worm infections. Such intestinal parasitic burdens can profoundly impede physical development and nutritional well-being. Addressing this, the present study was meticulously designed to assess the efficacy of a structured teaching programme in enhancing the comprehension of worm infestation and its prevention among mothers of children under five within a designated rural locale near Kuppam. Prior to the intervention, knowledge levels regarding worm infestation among participants were largely insufficient. Indeed, only a limited number, 28.8% (36 individuals), possessed moderately adequate understanding, while a substantial majority, 71.2% (89 individuals), exhibited poor knowledge. However, a striking transformation occurred after the five-day educational program provided to mothers of under-five children. The post-test results revealed a dramatic improvement, with 76.0% (95 individuals) demonstrating adequate knowledge, 6.4% (8) reaching a moderately adequate level, and only 17.6% (22) still showing poor knowledge. This significant disparity between pre- and post- education knowledge underscores the program's effectiveness. The mean knowledge score rose considerably, from a baseline of 8.70 (SD ±2.795) to 24.03 (SD ±8.309) post-intervention, confirming the highly positive impact of the education on mothers of young children, as evidenced by the significant t-statistic of 19.763.