A study to assess the knowledge on selected optional vaccine
among mothers of under five children in selected immunization centers at Mysore
with view to develop information booklet
Ms. Saraswathi.
K.N1, Mrs. Lissa J 1
1Assistant Professor, JSS College of Nursing, Mysore
*Corresponding
Author Email:
ABSTRACT:
Immunization is a simple preventive
service. Routine immunization is provided free of charge in India. The other
additional vaccines are available as optional. The mothers play a major role in
promoting the health of the children. Optional vaccines are those which are
given according to once on choice. Assess to immunization services and up to
date immunization coverage are essential for protecting every age group from
debilitating and potentially life threatening effects of infectious diseases.1
The present study was aimed to assess the knowledge on selected optional
vaccines among mothers of under five children in selected immunization centers
at Mysore. Objectives: 1.To assess the knowledge regarding optional vaccines among
mothers of under five children.2. To associate the level of knowledge of
mothers of under five children regarding the optional vaccines with selected
socio-demographic variables. Methods: A
descriptive study approach was adopted for the study. Samples were selected
using non probability convenient sampling technique; samples consist of 60
mothers of under five children from JSS Hospital at
Mysore. Data from the study participants was collected by structured knowledge
questionnaire on optional vaccines. Data collected was analyzed using
descriptive and inferential statistics. Results:
The findings of the study revealed that the knowledge of mothers of under five children regarding the optional vaccines was
inadequate. Data shows that majority of mothers of under five children had poor knowledge regarding optional
vaccines 34 (56.6%) ,25 ( 41.8%) had
average knowledge and only 1 (1.6%) had
good knowledge and the knowledge scores of mothers of under five children
regarding optional vaccines ranged from 4-23. It also revealed that the mean
knowledge was 10.08 with the standard deviation of ±
3.12. The findings of the study also revealed that the knowledge of
mothers of under five children regarding optional
vaccines was not having any significant association with their selected
personal variables viz. age, education, occupation, marital status, religion,
type of family, family income, previous knowledge of optional vaccines and
source of information. Conclusion: From
the study findings, it is understood that the knowledge regarding selected
optional vaccines among mothers of under five children
is significantly low. This emphasizes on more responsibility of health care
professionals, especially nurses in empowering the mothers of under five children with knowledge to prevent infectious
diseases among children.
KEY WORDS: Mothers, optional vaccines
INTRODUCTION:
Immunization
is the process whereby a person is made immune or resistant to an infectious
disease, typically by the administration of a vaccine. Vaccines stimulate the
body’s own immune system to protect the person against subsequent infection or
disease.
Immunization is proven tool
for controlling and eliminating life-threatening infectious disease and is
estimated to avert between 2 and 3 million deaths each year. It is one of the
most cost effective health investments, with proven strategies that make it
accessible to even the most hard to- reach and vulnerable populations. 1
In recent years however
relatively low immunization levels in this age group have occasional scattered
outbreak of certain disease. For this reason in spite of the national effort
some immunizations are administered optionally to improve the immunization
levels of all children. An optional vaccine refers to vaccines which are taken
apart from the vaccine given as per the immunization schedule. The optional
vaccine includes Hepatitis B, H1N1, and typhoid vaccines.1 The dosage of Hepatitis B vaccine is 0.5ml and H1N1
influenza vaccine is 0.25ml and it is given by intramuscularly. Oral typhoid
vaccine is recommended after 6 years of age and 3 doses of oral typhoid
vaccines are required to complete the course. This vaccination helps to making
the babies’ immune system strong.4. Still the people are unaware the
importance of optional vaccines. Hence the study plays an important role in
spreading the awareness on immunization among the mothers of under
five children.2
NEED FOR THE STUDY:
A descriptive study was
conducted to assess the awareness and acceptance and reasons for non-acceptance
of optional vaccine among the mothers attending SAT immunization clinic at Thiruvananthapuram. The data collected from hundred mothers
by using interview section. The results shows that 5% of mothers had excellent
awareness of optional vaccines, 33% had poor awareness, 43.48% mothers with
educational status below matriculation were unaware of the vaccine, 9.68%
mothers with educational status above matriculation were aware of the vaccine,
50% of the mothers living in rural areas were unaware of optional vaccines,
40.38% with income greater than 300/- were unaware optional vaccines. Better
awareness was found among Hindu and Christians, acceptance level Hepatitis B, Hib, MMR was 90% that for chicken pox was 10%.3
OBJECTIVES:
v To assess the knowledge regarding optional
vaccine among mothers of under five children.
v To associate the level of knowledge of
mothers of under five children regarding the optional vaccine with selected
socio demographic variables.
Hypothesis:
H1: There will be significant
association in the level of knowledge of mothers of under
five children with selected socio demographic variable.
METHODOLOGY:
Research Design: The research design selected for study was descriptive design.
Sampling technique: Convenience sampling technique
Sample:
Mothers of under five children sample size was 60.
VARIABLES
Study variable: Knowledge regarding optional vaccines
among mothers of under five.
Extraneous variables: Socio demographic variables such as age, education, occupation,
marital status, religion, type of family, family income and previous knowledge
on optional vaccines and source of information.
Setting
The present study was
conducted in JSS Hospital (pediatric ward) Mysore
Data collection technique.
Section A-
It deals with socio
demographic characteristics which include age, education, marital status, religion, type of family, family income, awareness on
optional vaccines and source of information.
Section B-
Structured knowledge
questionnaire was prepared to assess knowledge on optional vaccines among
mothers of under five children.
RESULTS:
Section 1: Selected personal variables of
the mothers of under five children.
TABLE 1: Frequency
and percentage distribution of selected personal variables of mothers of under
five children.
|
Sl no |
Demographic
variables |
Frequency
(f) |
Percentage
(%) |
|
1 |
Age
in (years) |
|
|
|
A |
18-27 |
46 |
76.6 |
|
B |
28-36 |
13 |
21.6 |
|
C |
37-45 |
1 |
1.6 |
|
2 |
Education
|
|
|
|
A |
Illiterate |
5 |
8.3 |
|
B |
Primary |
14 |
23.3 |
|
C |
Secondary and above |
41 |
68.3 |
|
3 |
Occupation
|
|
|
|
A |
Housewife |
35 |
58.3 |
|
B |
coolie |
8 |
13.3 |
|
C |
Private |
5 |
8.3 |
|
d |
Government |
12 |
20 |
|
4 |
Marital
status |
|
|
|
A |
Married |
59 |
98.3 |
|
B |
Divorced |
0 |
0 |
|
C |
Widow |
1 |
1.6 |
|
5 |
Religion |
|
|
|
A |
Hindu |
52 |
86.6 |
|
B |
Christian |
1 |
1.6 |
|
C |
Muslim |
2 |
3.3 |
|
D |
others |
5 |
8.3 |
|
6 |
Type
of family |
|
|
|
A |
Nuclear |
35 |
58.3 |
|
B |
Joint |
25 |
41.6 |
|
7 |
Family income |
|
|
|
A |
1000-2999 |
26 |
43.3 |
|
B |
3000-4999 |
11 |
18.3 |
|
C |
5000 and above |
23 |
38.3 |
|
8 |
Awareness
of optional vaccines |
|
|
|
A |
Yes |
56 |
93.3 |
|
B |
No |
4 |
6.6 |
|
9 |
Source
of information |
|
|
|
A |
Books |
20 |
33.3 |
|
B |
Health education |
27 |
45 |
|
C |
Magazines |
2 |
3.3 |
|
d |
Media |
11 |
18.3 |
Section 2: Mean, median, standard deviation and range of Knowledge
of mothers of under five children regarding selected
optional vaccines.
Table 2
|
Sr no |
Group |
Mean |
Median |
Standard deviation |
Range |
|
1 |
Mothers of under five
children |
10.08 |
10 |
±3.12 |
4-23 |
Section 3: Frequency and percentage distribution of mothers of
under five children according to their level of knowledge regarding optional
vaccines.
Table 3 n
= 60
|
Knowledge level |
frequency |
percentage |
|
Average |
25 |
41.8% |
|
Good |
1 |
1.6% |
|
Poor |
34 |
56.6% |
Section 4: Association between level of
knowledge regarding optional vaccines with their selected personal variables
The selected personal
variables such as age, education, occupation, marital status, religion, type of family, family income, awareness of optional vaccine
and source of information were not having any significant association with the
knowledge scores of mothers of under five children regarding optional vaccine
at 0.05 level.
CONCLUSION:
·
The
findings of the study revealed that the knowledge of mothers of under five children regarding the optional vaccines was
inadequate. Data shows that majority of mothers of under five children had poor knowledge regarding optional
vaccines 34 (56.6%) ,25 ( 41.8%) had
average knowledge and only 1 (1.6%) had
good knowledge and the knowledge scores of mothers of under five children
regarding optional vaccines ranged from 4-23. It also revealed that the mean
knowledge was 10.08 with the standard deviation of ±
3.12.
·
The
above findings of the study stress the need for conducting health awareness programmes for mothers of under
five children regarding optional vaccines.
·
The
findings of the study also revealed that the knowledge of mothers of under five children regarding optional vaccines was not
having any significant association with their selected personal variables viz.
age, education, occupation, marital status, religion, type of family, family
income, previous knowledge of optional vaccines and source of information.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
The following
recommendations were made based on the results of the study.
·
A
large scale study can be conducted to generalize the findings.
·
A
similar study can be conducted by adopting the true experimental approach.
·
An
experimental study can be conducted to determine the effectiveness of planned
teaching programme among mothers of under five children regarding optional vaccines.
·
A
comparative study can be conducted to assess the knowledge and attitude of
health personnel regarding optional vaccines in rural and urban areas .
REFERENCE:
1.
Chethan Kumar, Sunil Malothra and Deepa Guptha. Immunization in India. Journal of Community
spectrum. 22(3); 2008: 34-42.
2.
Batham A, Narula D, Toteja T, Sreenivas V and Pulivel JM.
Systematic review and meta analysis of prevalence of
Hepatitis B in India. Available from: URL:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/
pubmed/2009/Vol-6-issue 4.
3.
Jain Kumar and Laitha Swamy Awareness and acceptance and reasons for
non-acceptance of optional vaccine among the mothers attending SAT immunization
clinic at Thiruvananthapuram. Indian Journal of
pediatrics. 13(4); 2011: 65-69.
Received on 13.01.2014 Modified on 20.08.2014
Accepted on 18.10.2014 © A&V Publication all right reserved
Asian
J. Nur. Edu. and Research 4(4): Oct.- Dec.,
2014; Page 513-515