Effectiveness of Awareness Programme on Importance of Iodine in Fetal Brain Development among Women in Selected Rural Area, Mangalore.

Bhavya S.V¹, Shantha Kumari K²

¹Obstetrics and Gynecological Nursing Department, JSS College of Nursing, Mysore.

²Obstetrics and Gynecological Nursing Department, Yenepoya College of Nursing, Mangalore.

*Corresponding Author’s Email: spbhavya123@gmail.com

ABSTRACT:

Background: Conflict is a situation where the concerns of two people appear to be incompatible. Conflict Iodine deficiency disorders are the most common cause of preventable brain damage and mental retardation in the world. It was estimated that nearly 1.6 billion people in the world are at risk of iodine deficiency and 30 million suffer from lowered mental ability. Around 56 million, 10% of the world’s population suffer from goiter and because of lack of iodine in mothers, over 120.000 babies are still born every year as cretins like mentally retarded, physically stunted, deaf mute, or paralysed. In view of these the knowledge of women were assessed as One group pre-test post-test pre experimental design with planned teaching programme on importance of iodine in fetal brain development at rural area of Mangalore. The researcher used non probability purposive sampling technique for selecting 50 number of women as sample and data obtained by using structured interview method. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data. The findings of the study were, the mean percentage of the total knowledge scores of the pre test was 38.80% with mean±SD of 15.52± 1.705 and the mean post test knowledge score was 72.90% with mean±SD of 29.16±1.765. Significance difference between pre test and post test knowledge score was statistically tested by using paired ‘t’ test and it was found to be significant (t=47.460, p<0.05). The findings of the study revealed that there is significant increase in knowledge of women, after the planned teaching programme on importance of iodine in fetal brain development. Hence it is concluded that planned teaching programme is significant in improving the knowledge of women on importance of iodine in fetal brain development.

KEYWORDS: Effectiveness, Iodine, Fetal brain development, Planned teaching programme, women.

INTRODUCTION:

Health education and promotion has been an integral component of all National Health and Family Welfare programme. This approach is used as community based strategy1.

Iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) are the world’s leading cause of mental retardation and can lower the average IQ of a population by as much as 15 points. IDD is danger to pregnant women and young children. Even mild Iodine Deficiency during pregnancy can affect fetal brain development and as a result, up to 2.4 million babies are born each year with mental retardation.2 In India there are more than 500 million people suffering from Iodine deficiency, 54 million from goiter, and two million from cretinism. It is Iodine Deficiency that causes goiter as well as cretinism, which retards physical and mental development and causes other health problems3. The global elimination of brain damage caused by iodine deficiency programme has developed through successful application of knowledge at country level, mainly with the use of iodized salt. This has involved the support of the United Nations System, particularly WHO and UNICEF and has been initiated in more than 100 countries with an at risk population in excess of two billion.4

Statement of the problem:

Effectiveness of planned teaching programme on importance of iodine in fetal brain development among women in selected rural area, Mangalore, Dakshina Kannada.

OBJECTIVES:

1. To determine the pre- existing knowledge on importance of iodine in fetal brain development among women as measured by the structured interview schedule.

2. To design and provide health education on importance of iodine in fetal brain development to women by using media.

3. To find the effectiveness of planned teaching programme on importance of iodine in fetal brain development among women as measured by the same structured interview schedule.

4. To find association between knowledge score on importance of iodine in fetal brain development among women with selected demographic variables.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Research design:

One group pre-test – post-test pre experimental design

Pre-test® Treatment (PTP) ® Post-test Effectiveness

(x) (y) (y-x)

A structured interview schedule was prepared to measure the dependent variable before and after the administration of planned teaching programme.

Independent variable:

In this study, the planned teaching programme on importance of iodine in fetal brain development is an independent variable.

Dependent variable:

In this study, the dependent variable is the knowledge of women taken in the study.

Population:

The population selected for this study comprised of women in a selected rural area at Mangalore.

Sampling technique:

Purposive non-probability sampling technique was found appropriate to select 50 women from the selected rural area as the sample for the study.

Sample and sample size:

The present study was conducted among 50 women of reproductive age group were selected from selected rural area at Mangalore.

Sampling criteria:

Inclusion criteria:

Women who were:

1. In the reproductive age group.

2. Available at the time of the data collection.

3. Willing to participate in the study.

Exclusion criteria:

Women who were,

1. Attained menopause.

2. Not understanding Kannada.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION:

Distribution of the sample according to their age showed that a majority 62% were in the age group of 25-35 years, whereas 26% were in the age group of 35-45 years and 12% were in the age group of 15-25 years. Analysis related to marital status revealed that majority 84% of the respondents were married and remaining 16% were unmarried. Distribution of the sample according to their educational status revealed that 62% of the respondents had SSLC, Both illiterates and graduates of 16% and 6% of respondents had completed pre-university education. Distribution of the sample with according to their occupation showed that majority 72% of the respondents were housewives, 20% were coolie workers and the remaining 8% were government or private employees.

Distribution of the sample according to the type of family revealed that majority 66% respondents belonged to nuclear family and 34% belonged to joint family. Distribution of the sample according to their to source of information showed that majority 68% of the respondents had receive information on health from health personnel, 18% from mass media and 14% from academic education. Distribution of the sample according to their dietary pattern revealed that 86% of the respondents belonged to mixed diet and 14% belonged to vegetarian. Distribution of the sample according to usage of iodised salt showed that majority 82% of the respondents use iodised salt and 18% were responded no to the usage of iodised salt.

Table 2: Area-wise mean, SD, and mean percentage of pre test knowledge scores of women in selected areas of importance of iodine in fetal brain development. n= 50

Sl. No.	Knowledge areas	Max. possible score	Mean score	SD	Mean %
1.	Concept of iodine	7	2.70	0.544	38.57
2.	Knowledge related to sources and requirements of iodine	10	4.00	0.808	40.00
3.	Knowledge related to effects of iodine deficiencies	10	4.00	0.948	40.00
4.	Knowledge related to iodine in fetal brain development	13	4.82	0.962	37.08
	Total	40	15.52	3.262	155.65

Table 3: Area-wise effectiveness of planned teaching programme with mean, SD and mean percentage of pre-test and post-test knowledge scores of women n = 50

Areas	Max. Possible score	Pre-test (x)		Post-test (y)		Effectiveness (y-x)
Areas	Max. Possible score	Mean±SD	Mean %	Mean±SD	Mean %	Mean±SD	Mean %
Knowledge related to concept of iodine	7	2.70±0.544	38.57	5.64±0.776	80.57	2.94±0.232	42.00
Knowledge related to sources and requirements of iodine	10	4.00±0.808	40.00	7.38±1.008	73.80	3.38±0.200	33.80
Knowledge related to effects of iodine deficiency	10	4.00±0.948	40.00	7.46±0.813	74.60	3.46±0.135	34.60
Knowledge related to iodine in fetal brain development	13	4.82±0.962	37.08	8.68±1.151	66.77	3.86±0.189	29.69
Total	40	15.52±1.705	38.80	29.16±1.765	72.90	13.64±0.06	34.1

Section A: Assessment of the level of existing knowledge among women on importance of iodine in fetal brain development (TABLE-1)

Section B: Area-wise analysis of pretest knowledge score of women on importance of iodine in fetal brain development. (TABLE-2)The mean percentage of the total knowledge scores of the pre-test was 38.80% with mean±SD of 15.52±3.262. Area-wise mean percentage of knowledge score was 40% in the area of both sources and requirements of iodine and effects of iodine deficiencies with a mean±SD of 4.00±0.808. In the area of ‘Knowledge related to concept of iodine’ the mean percentage was 38.57% with an area-wise mean±SD of 2.70±0.544 and the lowest 37.08% was obtained in the area of ‘Knowledge related to iodine in fetal brain development’ with an area-wise mean ± SD of 4.82±0.962. The findings revealed that the knowledge of women in most of the areas of importance of iodine in fetal brain development was poor.

Section C: Area-wise effectiveness of planned teaching programme with mean, SD and mean percentage of pre-test and post-test knowledge scores of women (TABLE-3)

Comparison of area-wise mean and SD of the knowledge scores showed that in the area of concept of iodine’ the pre-test mean percentage of knowledge score was 38.57% with mean±SD of 2.70±0.544 of showing a maximum increase of 42% with mean percentage knowledge score of women with mean±SD of 2.94±0.232. In the area of ‘Knowledge related to sources and requirements of iodine’ 33.80% increase in the mean percentage knowledge was observed with 40% in the pre-test and 73.80% in post-test. In the area of ‘Knowledge related to effects of iodine deficiency’. 34.60% increase in the mean percentage knowledge was observed with 40.00% in pre-test and 74.60% in the post-test.

The effectiveness of planned teaching programme was 29.69% in the area of ‘Knowledge related to iodine in fetal brain development’ with a pre-test mean percentage knowledge of 37.08% and post-test knowledge score of 66.77%. However, the results revealed that the overall percentage of post-test knowledge was more compared to the percentage of the pre-test knowledge score. Hence it was observed that the planned teaching programme was effective in improving the knowledge of women regarding importance of iodine in fetal brain development.

Table 4: Significance of differences between pre-test and post-test knowledge scores of women regarding importance of iodine in fetal brain development n = 50

Areas	Mean effectiveness	‘t’ value	Table value	Level of significance
Knowledge related to concept of iodine	2.940	28.100	2.01	P<0.05	Significant
Knowledge related to sources and requirements of iodine	3.380	23.712	2.01	P<0.05	Significant
Knowledge related to effects of iodine deficiency	3.460	19.591	2.01	P<0.05	Significant
Knowledge related to iodine in fetal brain development	3.860	20.600	2.01	P<0.05	Significant
Total	13.640	42.571	2.01	P<0.05	Significant

Findings revealed that the mean post-test score was significantly higher than their mean pre-test score. The calculated ‘t’ value (t=42.571, p<0.05) was greater than the table value at 0.05 in all sections. Therefore, the null hypothesis was rejected and alternate research hypothesis was accepted indicating that the gain in knowledge was not by chance. Hence, it is concluded that there is a significant gain in knowledge of women through planned teaching programme on importance of iodine in fetal brain development. The role of nursing professionals is crucial in giving health education and creating awareness in the community. By creating awareness in the public, the nurse can help to break the chain of embarrassment and develop awareness in themselves and give importance to their health.

LIMITATIONS:

1. Sample size was small so the generalization of the findings is limited.

2. Study was conducted only in one rural area so the generalization of the finding is limited.

HYPOTHESIS:

H1: The mean post-test knowledge scores of selected women in a rural area regarding importance of iodine in fetal brain development will be significantly higher than their mean pre-test scores as measured by the structured interview schedule by tool at 0.05 level of significance.

H2: There will be significant association between the knowledge of women related to the importance of iodine in fetal brain development and selected demographic variable, as measured by the structured interview schedule by tool at 0.05 level of significance.

ETHICAL CONSIDERATION:

1. Permission for the study was obtained from the principal, Dr. MV Shetty College of Nursing, Mangalore and DHO and Medical Officer of study area for conducting the study.

2. An informed consent was also obtained from the respondents after proper explanation about the purpose, usefulness of the study and assurance

CONCLUSION:

The study concluded that women did not have enough knowledge regarding importance of iodine in fetal brain development. So there was lack of knowledge in some aspects regarding importance of iodine in fetal brain development among women residing in rural area and a necessity was felt to conduct health education programme for women to improve their health and to prevent irreversible brain damage related to iodine deficiency.

REFERENCES:

1. Tanuja Rastogi, Colin Mathers, Global Burden Of Iodine Deficiency Disorder, 2000.

2. Chernobyl Anniversary, World’s leading cause of mental retardation, Geneva. Wednesday 19 April 2006.

3. WHO/ UNICEF/ ICCIDD, China to use subsidies to eliminate last packets of IDD, May, 21, 2007.

4. Sethi and Umesh Kapil, Iodine deficiency and development of brain, Indian Journals of Pediatrics, volume 71-April 2004, pp 325-328.

Received on 13.07.2015 Modified on 16.08.2015

Int. J. Adv. Nur. Management 3(4): Oct. - Dec. 2015; Page 363-366

DOI: 10.5958/2454-2652.2015.00035.9

Percentage of range of score	Level of knowledge	No. of respondents	Percentage
<40	Poor	36	72.0
41-60	Average	14	28.0
61-80	Good	-	-
81-100	Excellent	-	-