Evaluating the Impact of an Information Booklet on Mothers' Knowledge of Febrile Seizure Prevention in Under-Five Children: A Study in Rural Kerala

Abstract Introduction: Febrile seizures, or fever fits, are seizures associated with high body temperature in children aged 5 months to 5 years, without serious underlying health issues. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of an information booklet in improving maternal knowledge about preventing febrile seizures among mothers of under-five children in selected rural areas. Objectives included assessing baseline knowledge, evaluating the booklet's impact, and exploring associations between knowledge and demographic variables. Methodology: An experimental one-group pre and post-test design was employed. Forty mothers of under-five children were selected via convenience sampling. Data collection involved a structured knowledge questionnaire administered before and seven days after distributing the information booklet. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for analysis. Results: The study revealed a significant improvement in maternal knowledge about febrile seizure prevention after the intervention. Pre-test results showed 75% of mothers had average knowledge, while post-test results indicated 97.5% achieved good knowledge. The mean knowledge score increased from 7.86 to 16.62, with a paired t-value of 7.56 (p < 0.05), confirming the effectiveness of the information booklet. Conclusion: The findings emphasize the importance of educating mothers about febrile seizure prevention, particularly in rural areas, to bridge knowledge gaps and enhance child health outcomes.