INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND OF THE RESEARCH:

Communicable diseases are growing threat to the communities worldwide. Malaria is the most important parasitic disease of the mankind, most important cause of mortality in the world.

About 40% of the world population lives in malaria endemic areas, 300-400 million cases of malaria occur every year. About 109 countries within African region malaria death were estimated.²Malaria continues to pose a major public health threat in India particularly due to plasmodium falciparum which is prone to complications in India. 60-65% of the infections are due to plasmodium vivax and 35 - 45% due to plasmodium falciparum.³

Malaria infects millions of people in India today, despite decades of efforts to control it. National Malaria control programme (NMEP) was launched in 1953.The NMCP was in operation for 5 years. It was highly successful in that an estimated 80%reduction in malaria problem in 1958.In 1958, National malaria eradication programme (NMEP) was launched by the government of India with a view to eradicate the malaria from India with a view to eradicate the malaria from India. Initially the programme was successful but soon setbacks appeared. The malaria was reassumed.⁴The annual incidence escalated from 50,000 in 1961 to a peak of 6.4 million cases malaria in 1976. So that the govt. of India revised the strategy of NMEP and implemented Urban Malaria scheme (UMS) in 1971 and the modified plan of operation (MPO) in 1977 under NMEP. Within the MPO, Plasmodium Falciparum containment programme (PFCP) has been introduced in 1977.⁵

OBJECTIVES:

1. To assess the knowledge regarding malaria and its prevention among adolescents in control group.

2. To develop and implement the booklet regarding malaria.

3. To compare the knowledge regarding malaria and prevention among control and experimental group.

MATERIAL AND METHODS:

RESEARCH APPROACH AND RESEARCH DESIGN:

Research approach is systematic, controlled empirical and critical investigation of natural phenomenon guided by theory and hypothesis about the presumed relations among phenomenon. The research approach used for study was quantitative approach.

Research design is quasi experimental was used to evaluate the effectiveness of booklet package on knowledge and attitude regarding malaria control and prevention.

VARIABLE UNDER RESEARCH:

INDEPENDENT VARIABLE: The independent variable is booklet package.

DEPENDENT VARIABLE: The dependent variable is without booklet package.

RESEARCH SETTING:

Research study on knowledge regarding malaria was conducted in Government senior secondary school, Agroha, Hisar.

POPULATION:

In this research students of Govt. Sr. Sec. School, Agroha, Hisar were taken as population.

TARGET POPULATION:

A target population consists of the total number of people or object that are meeting the designated set of criteria. In this research, all students of 9^th and 10th grade was taken as target population.

SAMPLE:

Sample may be defined as representative unit of a target population, which is worked upon by researcher during their research. In this research, students of 9^th and 10^thgrade was taken as sample.

SAMPLE SIZE:

It is the total number of subjects taken for research. There, 90 students were taken for research from Govt. Sr. Sec School, Agroha, Hisar.

SAMPLE TECHNIQUES:

Sampling is the process of selecting a representative segment of the population under this research. Under this research, consecutive sampling technique is used.

SAMPLE CRITERIA:

INCLUSION CRITERIA:

1. The students who all are willing to participation.

2. The students of 9^thand 10^thgrade, presented at the time of data collection.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

1. The students who are not willing for participation.

2. The students who are absent at the time of data collection.

DEVELOPMENT OF TOOL:

The investigator prepare check list schedule to access the knowledge of students regarding prevention and control of malaria in the process of developing the tool, the investigator review the related literature and held discussion with subject experts.

DEVELOPMENT OF BOOKLET PACKAGE:

A booklet package was developed to educate the students regarding malaria its prevention and control keeping in mind, the objective, literature review and the opinion of experts developed a check list. The main factors considered while preparing check list are simplicity of language, literacy level of samples and the areas covered in the knowledge assessment.

DESCRIPTION OF TOOL:

Research tool consists of 2 sections which are socio demographic data, and checklist.

· Section A: Socio-demographic variables. It includes 9 items which are age, gender, previous knowledge, economic status, class, religion, habitat, parent’s education.

· Section B: Checklist was used to assess the level of knowledge. It consists of 20 items related to knowledge on prevention and control of malaria which includes treatment modalities, side effects and anti-larva and anti-mosquito measures and control measures of malaria.

DATA ANALYSIS:

The analysis and interpretation was done in accordance with the objectives laid down under research. The data was analysed by descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage) and inferential statistics (Chi square test & unpaired ‘t’ test).

RESULT:

OBJECTIVE 1: To assess the level of knowledge regarding malaria and its prevention among adolescence in experimental and control group

TABLE: 1 REVEALS LEVEL OF KNOWLEDGE OF THE STUDENTS N=90

Knowledge score level	Frequency of control group	Percentage of control group	Frequency of experimental group	Percentage of experimental group
Good (14-20)	1	2.2%	21	46.7%
Average (8-13)	3	6.6%	18	40%
Poor (below 8)	41	91.1%	06	13.3%

The above data shows the level of the knowledge of experimental group and control group. Shows that majority of the students (16) had good score, (13) students scored average and only (6) students scored poor. In control group majority of students (41) scored poor, (3) students scored average and only (1) student scored good.

OBJECTIVE 2: To compare the knowledge regarding malaria and prevention among control and experimental group.

TABLE: 2 REVEALS THE COMPARISON OF LEVEL OF KNOWLEDGE N=90

Level of knowledge score	Score obtained	Frequency of control group (f)	Percentage of control group%	Frequency of experimental group	Percentage of experimental group	Chi-square and Df
Good	14-20	1	2.2%	21	46.7%	28.453&1
Average	8-13	3	6.6%	18	40%
Poor	0-8	41	91.1%	06	13.3%

The above table shows comparison between the knowledge of control group and experimental group. It was computed by chi square and its value is 28.45 which is highly significant at p<0.05. Hence there was a significant difference in level of knowledge in experimental and control group.

OBJECTIVE 3: To compare the mean knowledge score of experimental group and control group.

TABLE: 3 REVEALS THE COMPARISON OF MEAN SCORE N=90

no.

Group

Mean knowledge score

Standard deviation

Unpaired ‘t’ test

Experimental group

12.3

4.93

7.94

Control group

5.4

3.101

5.4

The above table depict that mean knowledge score is 12.3 in experimental group where as in control group mean knowledge score is 5.4. On statistical bases, using unpaired ‘t’ test the calculated value is 7.94 higher than table value at 0.05 level if significant. The mean knowledge score found to be statistically significant difference in mean knowledge score between experimental and control group.

DISCUSSION:

OBJECTIVE 1: To assess the level of knowledge regarding malaria and its prevention among adolescence in experimental and control group.

This objective is supported by findings shown in table 4.2. This table shows that in experimental group 21(46.6%) have good knowledge, 18(40%) have average knowledge and 06(13.3%) have poor knowledge.

In control group majority 41(91.1%) of adolsecents have poor knowledge, 3(6.6%) have knowledge average and only 1(2.2%) have good knowledge.

The above objective and findings are supported by Al adhorey AH, et.al (2010), a study conducted to determine the level of knowledge, attitude and practices on malaria among aboriginal and rural communities in Penninsular Malaysia. The results reveal that knowledge about malaria and its transmission among rural participants (82%). The study concluded that efficient health education is needed to knowledge, attitude and practice regarding malaria.

OBJECTIVE 2: To compare the knowledge regarding malaria and prevention among control and experimental group.

The objetive is supported by findings shown in table 4.3 that compares the level of knowledge among adolescents in experimental and control group. It was computed by chi square and its value is 28.45 which is highly significant at p<0.05. Hence there was a significant difference in level of knowledge in experimental and control group.

The above objective and findings are supported by Adedotum AA, et.al (2010). A study to evaluate the validity and reliability of power point presentation in adolescents for assessing knowledge level. Chi square was 31.65 which is highly significant at 0.05.

OBJECTIVE 3: To compare the mean knowledge score of experimental group and control group.

Table 4.4 depict that mean knowledge score is 12.3 in experimental group where as in control group mean knowledge score is 5.4. On statistical bases, using unpaired ‘t’ test the calculated value is 7.94 higher than table value at 0.05 level if significant. The mean knowledge score found to be statistically significant difference in mean knowledge score between experimental and control group.

Hence, it can be concluded that children who under experimental group scored good than control group. So the implementation of booklet increases the level of knowledge of experimental group.

Hence research hypothesis was accepted. So it was concluded that booklet package is more effective to enhance knowledge level of adolescents.

CONCLUSION:

The above study was conducted on 90 adolescents to evaluate the effectiveness of booklet package on knowledge and attitude regarding malaria its prevention and control among adolescents. The data was collected by checklist. The findings of study revealed that chi square is 28.45 which is highly significant at p<0.05. The present study reveals that the students in experimental group gain knowledge (46.6%) after booklet package programme. The chi square test was highly significantly that increase knowledge on prevention and control of malaria.

REFERENCES:

1. Mahajan B.K, (1997). Methods in Biostatistics. 6th edition, Jaypee brothers medical publishers, New Delhi, Pp: 329-332.

2. Mahajan, Bin and Gupta M.C, (2007). Textbook of preventive social medicine. Jaypee brothers, New Delhi, Pp: 297-305

3. WHO (2021). The WHO estimates that in 2019 there were 229 million new cases of malaria resulting in 409,000 deaths. World malaria report 2021 Switzerland: World Health Organization. Available from: www.en.m.wikipedia.org.

4. Hartman TK, Rogerson SJ, Fischer PR (2010). There are about 10,000 malaria cases per year in Western Europe, and 1300-1500 in the United States. Available from: www.en.m.wikipedia.org.

5. CDC - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (28 January2019). The united states eradicated malaria as a major public health concern in 1951. Available from: www.en.m.wikipedia.org.

Received on 27.03.2024 Modified on 10.06.2024

A and V Pub Int. J. of Nursing and Medical Res. 2024; 3(3):109-112.

DOI: 10.52711/ijnmr.2024.24