A Study to assess the Knowledge of Adults Regarding Importance of Sanitary Latrines in Basha Nagar Davangere with a view to Develop Pamphlet

 

Prof. S F Billalli¹, Mr. Nagaraja B G², Mr. Prasannakumar D R²

¹Principal, Bapuji College of Nursing, Davangere

²Assistant Professor, Bapuji College of Nursing, Davangere

 

ABSTRACT:

Sanitation is one of the determinants of quality of life and human development index. Lack of sanitation and unhygienic practices facilitates the transmission of pathogens resulting in many potential diseases. The quality of life of people can be improved by safe disposal of human excreta. It is the paramount important for health and welfare and also for the social and environmental effect it may have in the community involved.

Objectives:

1.        To assess the knowledge of adults regarding the importance of sanitary latrine.

2.        To determine the effectiveness of pamphlet on knowledge regarding importance of sanitary latrine among Adults.

3.        To find the association between knowledge scores of adults and selected demographic variables.

Methods: A pre experimental one group pre test post test design was adopted to accomplish the objectives of the study. A sample of 30 adults was selected by using simple random sampling technique. The knowledge of adults on importance of sanitary latrine was determined by administering structured questionnaire.

Results: Findings of the study revealed that the mean percentage of pretest knowledge score was 13.56 (45.22%) with the standard deviation of 3.74). After administration of pamphlet the mean post test knowledge sores found to be 21.32 (71.06%) with the standard deviation of 2.655. There was a statistically significant association between knowledge scores and the selected demographic variables such as age, gender, education and their occupation at 0.05 level of significance.

Conclusion: From the study findings, it is revealed that adults had poor knowledge regarding importance of sanitary latrine and they improved their knowledge after administration of pamphlet. Hence there is great need to impart awareness among adults.

 

 

 

INTRODUCTION:

Sanitation is “the means of collecting and disposing of excreta and community liquid wastes in a hygienic way so as not to endanger the health of individual and the community as a whole”. It is a fundamental health service without which there cannot be any improvement in the state of community health. It is both public and private elements, and the individual’s hygiene can affect the whole community. Improving the sanitation within a community leads to an improvement in health. Thus sanitation is an integral component of environmental protection which ensures a productive life ¹.

 

Lack of sanitation and unhygienic practices facilitates the transmission of pathogens resulting in many potential diseases. Bacteria , parasites and worm that live in the excrement cause diseases like typhoid, dysenteries, diarrhea, cholera, ascariasis, hookworm infections, viral hepatitis, poliomyelitis and other intestinal infections and parasitic infestation is hold responsible by the inadequate and unsanitary disposal of human excreta. Efforts to improve hygiene and sanitation must aim to reduce transmission of infectious agents ².

 

Current estimation suggests that access to improve sanitation has not increased even in half of the population of developing countries. The lack of adequate sanitation is a key contributing factor to the ongoing high rates of diarrhoeal disease noted in developing countries. Improvement in sanitation has been consistently identified as being an important intervention to improve health ³.

 

India is still lagging far behind many countries in the field of environmental sanitation. Most of the problems in the country are due to defective environment, which in turn rob people of their health, destroy their livelihoods and undermine their overall development potential.  Sanitation is still an ignored issue in India ⁴.

 

NEED FOR THE STUDY:

Prevention and control of parasitic infection (WHO,1987) stressed that “the provision of sanitary facilities for excreta disposal and their proper use are necessary components of  any programme aim at controlling intestinal parasites. In many areas, the sanitary is the most urgent health need and those concerned with the control of intestinal parasites authorities and those responsible for the provision of sanitation facilities and water supply at community level⁵.

 

The enormity of the problem reflected in the Global water Supply and Sanitation Assessment Report (2000) jointly prepared by WHO and UNICEF where the international data on the global status of sanitary is presented. The report estimated that 2.4 billion people still do not have access to safe sanitation facilities and as a consequence, the world carries the stupendous burden of mortality, morbidity, of communicable diseases. Sanitation is the single most intervention for the reduction of the prevalence of diarrhoeal morbidity ⁶.

 

In census report 2001 of India, the sanitation coverage is 7.11 % (rural). All states in India has below 20% rural sanitation coverage except 50% coverage in Kerala and above 20% coverage in Punjab.7 In Karnataka, as many as 72% people in rural area still resort to open field defecation. Ashwas- “A people on household water and sanitation”, by the NGO Arghyam, release by state government H R Bharadwaj [on 29 july 2009] also revealed that 72 per cent has no access to toilets ⁷.

 

OBJECTIVES:

1.        To assess the knowledge of adults regarding the importance of sanitary latrine.

2.        To determine the effectiveness of pamphlet on knowledge regarding importance of sanitary latrine among Adults.

3.        To find the association between pre test knowledge scores of adults and selected demographic variables.

 

HYPOTHESIS:

H₁: There will be a significant difference between pre test and post test knowledge scores of adults regarding importance of sanitary latrines.

H₂: there will be significant association between the pre test knowledge scores of adults with selected demographic variables.

 

METHODOLOGY:

Research Design:

The research design selected for study was quasi experimental (one group pre test post test) design.

 

Sampling technique:

Simple random sampling technique

 

Sample:

sample size was 30 adults who are adults in selected urban areas, Davanagere

 

VARIABLES:

Research variable:

Knowledge of adults on importance of sanitary latrine.

 

Demographic variables:

Age, gender, religion, education, occupation, family income, family type and source of information regarding importance of sanitary latrine.

 

SETTING:

The present study was conducted in in Basha Nagar, Davanagere.

 

DATA COLLECTION TECHNIQUE:

Section A:

It deals with socio demographic characteristics which include age, gender, religion, education, occupation, family income, family type and source of information regarding importance of sanitary latrine.

Section B:

Structured knowledge questionnaire was prepared to assess knowledge on importance of sanitary latrine among Adults.

 

 

RESULTS:

Section 1: Selected personal variables of the Adults.

Table 1: Frequency and percentage distribution of adults in selected demographic characteristics      n = 30

 

 

Section 2: Knowledge of adults regarding importance of sanitary latrine.

Table 2: Knowledge level of adults regarding importance of sanitary latrine              n = 30

 

 

Table 3: Mean, mean % and standard deviation of Knowledge of adults regarding importance of sanitary latrine                n = 30

 

 

Section 3: Association between knowledge of adults on importance of sanitary latrine with their selected personal variables:

The selected personal variables such as age, gender, education and occupation were having significant association with the knowledge scores of adults on importance of sanitary latrine at 0.05 level.

 

CONCLUSION:

·         The findings of the study revealed that the adults had poor knowledge regarding the importance of sanitary latrine in the pre test and after administration of pamphlet adults’ knowledge have been improved. Data shows that majority 17 (56.7%) had inadequate knowledge and 13 (43.3%) had moderate knowledge regarding importance of sanitary latrine in the pre test where as in post test majority 13 (43.3%) of the adults had adequate knowledge, 11 (36.7%) had moderate knowledge.

·         The above findings of the study showed that the distribution of pamphlet is effective in improving the knowledge level of adults regarding importance of sanitary latrine.

·         The findings of the study also revealed that the knowledge of adults regarding importance of sanitary latrine had significant association with their selected personal variables viz. age, gender, Education and occupation.

 

RECOMMENDATIONS:

The following recommendations were made based on the results of the study.

1.        A similar study can be replicated on a larger sample with similar demographical characters.

2.        A similar study can be replicated with a control group using a larger population of the community.

3.        A study on knowledge, attitude and practices of adults regarding importance of sanitary latrine can be carried out.

4.        A study can be conducted to assess the actual practices in the usage of sanitary latrine by Adults.

 

REFERENCE:

1.        Choudury N, Mohammad AH. Exploring the current Status of Sanitary latrine use in shibpur Upazila, Narsingdi district. BRAC report. 2006 Nov.

2.        Subhrendu K Pattanayak. Shame or subsidy revisited: social mobilization for sanitation in Orissa. India Bulletin of the World Health Organization (BLT). 2009 Aug; 87(8): 565-644.

3.        G Howard et al. Human excreta and sanitation Potential hazards and information Needs. World Health Organization. London UK. IWA Publication; 2006.

4.        Pandve HT. Environmental sanitation: An ignored issue in India. Indian Journal of Occupational Environmental Medication. 2008; 12(1): 40. Available from: http://www.ijoem.com/article.asp

5.        Franceys R, Pickford J, Reed R. Foundations of sanitary practice. The need for on-site sanitation Guide to the Development of On-site Sanitation (WHO) 1992; 245.

6.        Dr.Bindeshwar Pathak. Endeavours in environmental sanitation. Twenty- second kelkar alumni lecture; 4 April; 2004. Available from: http://www.sulabinternational.org.

7.        Dietvorst. India, Karnataka: NEWAH, open defecation, rural sanitation; 2009 Jul 30.

 

 

 

 

 

Received on 11.02.2017          Modified on 20.03.2017

Accepted on 28.03.2017          © A&V Publications all right reserved