The Effectiveness of a Structured Teaching Programme on Knowledge and Practice Regarding Hand Washing Among the Children

Abstract: - The World health organisation (2018) states “Good hand hygiene is: A simple, cost effective way to save lives and transform the quality of health care at all levels. Hand washing complies of manually getting rid of visible short-term contaminants from hands by using soap and water. Hand washing is described to be the efficient yet short rubbing of all surfaces of the hands with lathered soap which is then followed with rinsing and cleansing under flowing streaming water. According to the CDC, washing hands could protect about 1 of 3 young children who get sick with diarrhoea and 1 of 5 young children with respiratory infections like pneumonia. Global hand washing Day observed annually on October 15 to raise awareness and highlight the importance of handwashing as an effective means of disease prevention. The theme for Global Handwashing Day 2023 is SAVES LIVES- clean your hands. The objective of study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a structured teaching programme on knowledge and practice regarding hand washing among the children of age group 10 – 15 years. A quasi experimental one group pertest post-test design was used to conduct the research. A convenience non-random sampling technique was selected. Samples are collected through non-probability purposive sampling technique. The sample of 60 children among 10 – 15 years was selected through non-probability purposive sampling technique. The tool used for the study was self-structured knowledge questionnaire. The study adopted one group pre-test post-test research design and was conducted at selected areas of Saddar Bazaar, Jalandhar Cantt. Pre-test and post-test was conducted using structured Questionnaire and Checklist among 60 selected children. Data was collected, recorded and analysed. The mean score for knowledge was increased from 15.57 to 28.05 and for practice the mean score increased from 5.5 to 9.23. The study also reveals that there is a weak positive correlation between level of knowledge and practice. The findings of the study conclude that STP was effective to improve the level of knowledge and practice among children regarding handwashing.