Effectiveness of Game-Based Learning on Knowledge regarding Personal Hygiene among School going Children in the Selected School

 

Ms. Shivangi Ranoliya¹, Mr. K. Sam Prasad², Mr. Jeenath Justin Doss. K.³

¹II Year M.Sc. Nursing, Child Health Nursing, Shri Anand Institute of Nursing, Opp. Ghanteshwar Park,

B/h Sainik Society, Jamnagar Road, Rajkot-360006.

²Guide, Shri Anand Institute of Nursing, Opp. Ghanteshwar Park, B/h Sainik society, Jamnagar Road,

Rajkot-360006.

³Principal, Shri Anand Institute of Nursing, Opp. Ghanteshwar Park, B/h Sainik society, Jamnagar Road,

Rajkot-360006.

 

ABSTRACT:

A pre-experimental study to assess the effectiveness of game-based learning on knowledge regarding personal hygiene among school going children in the selected school of Rajkot. The objectives of the study were (a) To determine pre-test knowledge regarding personal hygiene among school going children. (b) To determine the effectiveness of game based learning regarding personal hygiene among school going children in terms of gain in knowledge score. (c) To find out the association between the post-test knowledge score on personal hygiene with their selected demographic variables. The research approach selected for the study was quantitative research approach. The research design used for the present study was pre-experimental one group pre test post test design. By using proportionate non probability convenient sampling technique 60 samples were selected and their knowledge regarding personal hygiene was assessed by structured questionnaire. Education about personal hygiene was given through snake and ladder game for 5 days. Post test was done using the same questionnaire. The obtained data were analyzed using inferential statistical method paired ‘t’ test. The mean score before and after game based learning regarding personal hygiene was 10.26 & 21.93 and a mean difference was 11.67. The calculated ‘t’ value 41.24, was greater than the table value at p value 0.05 level of significance. Hence, it was concluded that snake and ladder game was effective in enhancing the knowledge regarding personal hygiene among school children.

 

 

 

INTRODUCTION:

Children are the gift to this world and it is the society’s responsibility to nurture and care for them. Children today become the pillar of nation tomorrow. Although the school-age years are one of the healthiest phases of life, many studies have shown that children are affected with many diseases due to lack of personal hygiene.¹

 

“Cleanliness is next to godliness”. Keeping one’s body clean is an important part of keeping oneself healthy and helping one feel good. Motivation for personal hygiene practices among children can cause reduction in personal illness. This can be done mainly through schools by educating and reinforcing students regarding personal health and hygienic practices.²

 

Poor health among school children is resulted from the lack of awareness of the health benefits of personal hygiene. Diarrheal diseases, skin diseases, worm infestations and dental diseases are most commonly associated with poor personal hygiene. One of the major problem faced by school children are infections. The primary cause of infections are contaminated water and poor personal hygiene as well as poor hygienic practices.³

 

Play is the child’s natural medium of self-expression. It is an opportunity which is given to the child to play out his feeling and problems. ‘Snake and Ladder’ is a very simple childhood racing board game played among these children and its see-sawing nature makes it popular. The game does not need any specific skill to play. This game has been used in health programs in many developing countries and adapted to teach the children in an innovative way.⁴

 

NEED FOR THE STUDY:

School is the place where a child spends most time of his childhood at school after home. Schools are important places in their lives since they provide an environment for development of skills, intelligence, which can help them to achieve potential goals and develop a good human being.

 

Communicable diseases are one of the most common problems faced by school going children. Lack of proper hygiene and sanitation facilitates increase burden of communicable disease in developing countries. Poor personal hygiene affects children’s health and makes them prone to excessive exposure to many infectious, respiratory, and gastrointestinal diseases such as: diarrhea, cold, fever, flu, abdominal pain, vomiting, distension, gum disease, dermatitis and itching and, in the long run, affects their immunity, growth and development, and increases school absence.⁵

 

According to the department for education’s latest statistics (7th Dec 2017) sickness was the main reason for absence in the autumn 2016 and spring 2017 terms. The overall pupil absence rate is 4.5%. Previously many of the research conducted about hand hygiene indicated that children with proper hand washing practices are less likely to report gastrointestinal and respiratory symptoms.

 

WHO (2009) declared that every nation should achieve the goal as health for all. Method for achieving health is with proper health care of the school children who form 15% of the total population. Ensuring access to the primary basic hygienic practices are the major effort under taken by governments, national organizations and international organizations such as UNICEF.⁶

 

OBJECTIVES:

·       To determine pre-test knowledge regarding personal hygiene among school going children.

·       To determine the effectiveness of game based learning regarding personal hygiene among school going children in terms of gain in knowledge score.

·       To find out the association between the post-test knowledge score on personal hygiene with their selected demographic variables.

 

HYPOTHESES:

H_1:     Their will be significant improvement in the post-test knowledge score on personal hygiene among school going children compare to their pre-test knowledge scores.

H_2:     There will be significant association between the post-test level of knowledge regarding personal hygiene with their selected demographic variables.

 

MATERIAL AND METHODOLOGY:

Research approach:

Quantitative research approach

 

Research design:

The research design selected for this study is Pre- experimental, one group pre-test post-test design.

 

Setting of the study:

The study was under taken in Shri Anand School at Rajkot.

 

The population selected from this setting was children of 8 to 10 years.

 

Population:

The population were children within the age group of 8-10 years, studying at Shri Anand School, Rajkot.

 

Sample:

It includes children of 8 to 10 years.

 

Sample size:

The sample size of the study was 60 school going children of 8 to 10 years.

 

Sampling technique:

The research study was conducted by non-probability convenient sampling technique.

 

Data analysis plan:

The collected data was analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics.

 

FINDINGS:

Findings related to demographic variables of the study:

1.     Out of 60 samples, 28 (46.66%) children belong to 10 years and more than half, 32 (53.33%) school children were males. 

2.     Out of 60, 24(40%) parents were completed primary education.

3.     The majority 38(63.34%%) school children belong to Hindu religion.

4.      Out of 60, 17(28.34%) parents were doing job and 13(6021.66%) parents were business man.

5.     Monthly income of the family shows that, 20 (33.34%) samples had a family  monthly income higher than Rs.15, 000/-, 

6.     Majority 39(65%) children were having sibling in their family.

 

CONCLUSION:

Modern lifestyle is becoming more complicated and people are given magnitude based on their outward manifestation rather than their inner feelings. Personal hygiene is a word to be taught and practiced because, it is incredibly imperative to maintain ones dignity in this materialistic world. Especially for children who take more effort to shine best in this world. Education through play therapy is an effective manner and gets more attention from the children. Hence, the researcher adopted the unsurpassed method of education through snake and ladder game. The result revealed that education through snake and ladder game is effective in promoting their level of knowledge on personal hygiene of school children.

 

REFERENCES:

1.      Healthy nation (Online) Available on http://whatistheurl.com/ healthy-children healthy-nation/

2.      Basavanthappa BT. Community health nursing. 2nd edition. New Delhi: Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers (P) Ltd; 2008.

3.      WHO (Online) Hand washing could save the lives of millions of children. Available from: http://www.scielosp.org. [Assessed August 5,2009]

4.      Axline Virginia (1969)Play therapy chapter-2  “A method of helping problem children help themselves”

5.      Paliwal et al, 2014; Tambekar and Shirsat, 2012; ALBashtawy and Hasna, 2012; Feachem, 1984

6.      Infectious diseases (Online) Available on http://www.bbc.com/news/stories42254527. 7th Dec 2017.

 

 

 

 

Received on 22.08.2019         Modified on 07.09.2019

Accepted on 17.09.2019      ©A&V Publications All right reserved