A Study to assess the effectiveness of Planned Teaching Programme on Knowledge regarding Brucellosis and its Prevention among animal handlers residing in selected rural area of Bagalkot District

 

Mr. Praveen S. Pateel¹, Mrs.  Shilpa N. Kugali², Mr Basanagouda Y. Patil³

¹Asso. Professor and HOD of Nursing Foundation, Shri B.V.V.S, Sajjalashree Institute of Nursing Sciences Navanagar, Bagalkot

²Asso. Professor, Department of Community Health Nursing, Shri B.V.V.S, Sajjalashree Institute of Nursing Sciences, Navanagar, Bagalkot

³M Sc Nursing, Final Year Department of Community Health Nursing, Shri B.V.V.S, Sajjalashree Institute of Nursing Sciences, Navanagar, Bagalkot

 

ABSTRACT:

Background: The World Health Organization reported that, half million new human cases are reported annually worldwide and these numbers are greatly underestimated the true incidence of human disease as the actual number of cases is estimated to be at least 10 times the figures officially announced. Brucellosis in India is very common but often neglected disease. India is an agricultural country and exposure to animals is quite high. It is primarily an occupational hazard transmitted directly or indirectly to man. Cattle farmers, dairy workers, shepherds, veterinarians, abattoir workers and animal husbandry personnel are particularly at risk. It has been estimated that the true incidence may be 25 times higher than the reported incidence due to misdiagnosis and underreporting. Materials and Methods: Pre-experimental research design with one group pre test post test without control group was used. The 30 study subjects were selected through convenient sampling technique. Data was collected by means of a Structured Closed Ended knowledge Questionnaire by interview schedule. Data was analyzed by using descriptive and inferential statistical in terms of mean, frequency distribution, percentage„t‟ test and chi-square test. Results: The results of the study clearly indicated that in pre test, out of 30 subjects 27 (90%) had average knowledge followed by 1(3 %) subjects with poor and 2 (7%) with good knowledge regarding brucellosis disease (post test) 17(56.66%) subjects had excellent knowledge followed by 13 (43.33%) with good knowledge and 0(0%) subjects with average knowledge regarding brucellosis Comparison of mean percentage of the knowledge scores of the pretest and posttest reveals an increase of percent in the mean knowledge score of the animal handlers after PTP. Comparison of area wise mean and SD of the knowledge scores in the area of “Indications of brucellosis disease” shows that the pretest mean percentage of the knowledge score was 16.3 percent with SD 1.6 whereas post-test mean percentage of knowledge score was 24.43 Percent with mean and SD 1.88. This shows an increase of 8.13 percent in the mean percent of knowledge scores 0f animal handlers.

 

 

 

INTRODUCTION:

The WHO records more than 150 diseases and infections of animals communicable to man and terms these as “ zoonoses”. W.H.O (1967) defined zoonosis as “those diseases and infections which are naturally transmitted between animals and man”. Zoonotic diseases can be caused by viruses, bacteria, ricketssia, fungi, helminthes, protozoa and arthropods etc¹.

 

Brucellosis, also known as “undulant fever”, “Mediterranean fever” or “Malta fever” is a zoonosis and the infection is almost invariably transmitted by direct or indirect contact with infected animals or their products. It affects people of all age groups and of both sexes. Although there has been great progress in controlling the disease in many countries, there still remain regions where the infection persists in domestic animals and consequently, transmission to the human population frequently occurs².

 

Brucellosis is a widespread zoonosis mainly transmitted from cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and camels through direct contact with blood, placenta, fetuses or uterine secretions, or through consumption of contaminated raw animal products (especially unpasteurized milk and soft cheese). In endemic areas, human brucellosis has serious public health consequences. Worldwide, Brucella melitensis is the most prevalent species causing human brucellosis, owing in part to difficulties in immunizing free-ranging goats and sheep. In countries where eradication in animals (through vaccination and/or elimination of infected animals) is not feasible, prevention of human infection is primarily based on raising awareness, food-safety measures, occupational hygiene and laboratory safety. In most countries, brucellosis is a notifiable disease³.

 

Brucellosis is an important re-emerging zoonosis with a worldwide distribution. It caused by brucellae, transmitted to humans from infected animals. Brucellae are facultative intracellular, gram-negative, partially acidfast coccobacilli. Important agents of human disease are B. Melitensis, B. Abortus, B. Coni and B. Suis⁴.

 

 NEED OF THE STUDY

The World Health Organization reported that, half million new human cases are reported annually worldwide and these numbers are greatly underestimated the true incidence of human disease as the actual number of cases is estimated to be at least 10 times the figures officially announced.⁵

 

The study was to investigate the seroprevalence of brucellosis among high-risk group individuals, consisting of veterinarians and para-veterinarians, shepherds, butchers and animal owners. The Method used under the present work was carried out at Project Directorate on Animal Disease Monitoring and Surveillance, Bangalore, by using the recently developed indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for antibodies to Brucella abortus. The Results reveals that the results were compared with the conventional serological tests, Rose Bengal plate test and standard tube agglutination test. The result showed that the indirect ELISA was more sensitive than the conventional tests. Of 618 tested, the disease of prevalence was at 41.23% in veterinary inspectors, 30.92% in veterinary assistants, 12.37% in veterinary officers, 6.18% in veterinary supervisors, 6.18% in Group D workers, 2.06% in shepherds and 1.03% in butchers.  It Concludes This study results highlight the immediate necessity to institute control measures to control Brucellosis⁶.

 

Brucellosis in India is very common but often neglected disease. India is an agricultural country and exposure to animals is quite high. It is primarily an occupational hazard transmitted directly or indirectly to man. Cattle farmers, dairy workers, shepherds, veterinarians, abattoir workers and animal husbandry personnel are particularly at risk. It has been estimated that the true incidence may be 25 times higher than the reported incidence due to misdiagnosis and underreporting.⁷

 

The prevalence of brucellosis has been widely reported in different regions like in Orissa 6.8%, in Andhra Pradesh 11.51%, in Punjab 12.09%, in Gujarat 8.5% and  in Haryana 34% prevalence of human brucellosis was recorded among veterinarians, attendants and compounders in contact with animals.⁸

 

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY:

1.    To assess the knowledge regarding brucellosis and its prevention among animal handlers

2.    To evaluate the effectiveness of Planned Teaching Programme on knowledge regarding brucellosis and its prevention

3.    To find out the association between the post test knowledge about brucellosis and its prevention with selected socio demographic variables.

 

HYPOTHESES:

1)     H₁- There will be a significant difference in the mean pre test and post test knowledge score of animal handlers.

2)     H₂- There will be a significant association between the knowledge score of animal handlers with their selected socio demographic variables.

 

ASSUMPTIONS:

The study is based on the following assumptions:

1       Animal handlers are more prone to get brucellosis infection.

2       Animal handlers will have inadequate knowledge regarding brucellosis and its prevention.

3       Planned teaching programme will help to enhance the knowledge of animal handlers regarding brucellosis and its prevention.

 

DELIMITATIONS:

The present study is delimited to:

1. Animal handlers who are residing in a selected  rural area of Bagalkot district.

2. Assessment of knowledge of animal handlers on brucellosis and its prevention.

 

METHODOLOGY:

RESEARCH DESIGN:

In the present study Pre Experimental, one group pre test post test design was selected to evaluate the effectiveness of planned teaching programme on knowledge regarding Brucellosis and its prevention among animal handlers.

 

SCHEMATIC PRESENTATION OF REASEARCH DESIGN:

 

R ­­   --------à    0₁              X            0₂

X = Administration of planned teaching programme

0_{1 =} pre – test

0_{2 =} post – test

 

VARIABLES:

A variable is any phenomenon or characteristics or attributes under study. These are the measurable characteristics of concepts and consist of logical group of attribute.

 

a)     Dependent variable:

It is the effect or the variable influenced by the researcher’s manipulation of the independent variable. In the proposed study dependent variable is,

·      Knowledge of animal handlers regarding Brucellosis and its prevention.

 

b)     Independent variables:

It is the variable that stands alone and does not depend on any other. The treatment or experimental variable that is manipulated or varied by the researcher to create an effect on dependent variable.

 

In this study the planned teaching programme on Brucellosis and its prevention was independent variable.

c)      Attribute variable:

Pre existing characteristics of study participants which the researcher simply observes or measures. In this study the socio demographic characteristics such as age, gender, marital status, religions, education status, Income of family, source of information, working per hours per day, Have you attended any programme on Brucellosis and its prevention were treated as attribute variables.   

 

 

 

Setting of the study:

Settings are the more specific places where data collection will be taken. The Investigator has selected the animal handlers attending at Bilgi village in Bagalkot                                    

 

Population:

Population is the entire aggregation of cases that meet a designed set of criteria. The population in the study consists of animal handlers in selected villages of BAGALKOT.

 

Sample:

A sample consists of a subset of the units that compare the population. In this study, the sample comprises of 30 animal handlers attending at Bilgi village in Bagalkot.

 

Sampling technique:

Sampling is the process of selecting a portion of the population to represent the entire population. convenient sampling technique is used to select the subjects.

 

SAMPLING CRITERIA:

The sample selection was based on the following inclusion and exclusion criteria.

 

Inclusive criteria:

The study includes village people who are,

1.    Willing to participate in the study.

2.    Present at the time of data collection.

 

Exclusive criteria:

The study excludes the animal handlers who are

1.    Not able to co-operate throughout the period of study.

2.    Severely ill and not able to provide data.

 

RESULTS:

ORGANISATION OF FINDINGS:

The collected information was organized and presented in 2 sections as follows:

Section I:

Description of socio-demographic characteristics of animal handlers     regarding Brucellosis.

 

Section II:

Structured questionare to animal handlers regarding Brucellosis.

Part-A:  Questionnaire on knowledge of animal handlers regarding Brucellosis. 

Part-B:   Questionnaire regarding prevention of Brucellosis.

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION I: DESCRIPTION OF SOCIO-DEMOGRAPHIC

Table No. 1 Baseline Characteristics of Sample

S. No.	Socio demographic factor	Frequency	Percentage
1	Age in years
A	Less than 20year	0	0
B	21-30year	0	0
C	31-40year	14	46
D	41 and above	16	54
2	Gender
A	Male	14	46
B	Female	16	54
3	Marital status
A	Married	30	100
B	Unmarried	0	0
C	Divorced/Separated	0	0
D	Widow/Widower	0	0
4	Religion
A	Hindu	25	83
B	Muslim	5	17
C	Christian	0	0
D	It others specify	0	0
5	Education ststus
A	Non formal education	0	0
B	Primary	6	20
C	High school	4	13
D	PUC	8	27
E	Degree	12	40
6	Total Income of the family
A	Less than Rs 3000	0	0
B	Rs 3001 - 5000	0	0
C	Rs 5001 – 7000	0	0
D	Rs 7001 and  Above	30	100
7	Source of information
A	Mass media	12	40
B	Parents/Relatives/Friends	0	0
C	Health professionals	18	60
D	If others specify	0	0
8	Duration of work
A	4-8 hours	13	43
B	9-10 hours	17	57
9	Attended programme
A	Yes	0	0
B	No	30	100

 

SECTION II: ASSESSMENT OF KNOWLEDGE ON ANIMAL HANDLERS REGARDING BRUCELLOSIS.

 

 

 

 

Table: 2:  Percentage  distribution of animal handlers  according to levels of knowledge in pre test       N=30

Test	Levels of    knowledge	Frequency(F)	Percentage (%)
Pre test	Excellent	0	0
	Good	2	7
	Average	27	90
	Poor	1	3
	Very poor	0	0

 

Percentage distribution of animal handlers in pre-test reveals that out of 30 animal handlers, 3 % had poor knowledge followed by 90% with average knowledge, 0% had poor knowledge and surprisingly only 7% had good knowledge regarding Brucellosis. No subject had excellent knowledge regarding Brucellosis (Table .2).

 

SECTION III:    ASSESSMENT OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF PTP ON BRUCELLOSIS AMONG ANIMAL HANDLERS.

Part-I: Comparison of knowledge level of animal handlers in pre-test and post-test.

Table 3; Percentage wise distribution of study subjects according to levels of knowledge in pre test and post test

Level Knowledge	Pre test		Post test
	Frequency	Percentage (%)	Frequency	Percentage (%)
Excellent	0	0%	17	43%
Good	2	7%	13	57%
Average	27	90%	0	0%
Poor	1	3%	0	0%
Very poor	0	0%	0	0%
Total	30	100%	30	100%

 

Percentage distribution of community regarding Brucellosis in pre-test shows out of 30 subjects 2(7%) had good knowledge, 27(90%) had average knowledge followed by 1 (3%) subject with poor and 0 (0%) with very poor knowledge of village people regarding  Brucellosis.

 

Where as in post test out of 30 common people 43% had excellent knowledge. 57% had good knowledge, and remaining 0%had average knowledge and no subjects were found in the category of poor or very poor  knowledge. Thus it shows that Brucellosis was successful in improving the knowledge of animal handlers regarding Brucellosis.

 

Part-II: Area wise effectiveness of planned teaching programme on knowledge regarding Brucellosis. Among animal handlers

Table 4:  Area wise mean, S.D and mean percentage of the knowledge scores in pretest and post test. N=30

Knowledge area	Max. score	PRE TEST			POST TEST			Effectiveness O2-O1
		Mean	S.D	Mean%	Mean	S.D	Mean%
Knowledge of animal handles	20	10.63	1.37	35.43%	15.73	1.61	52.43%	17%
Prevention of brucellosis	10	5.66	0.88	18.86%	8.7	0.74	29%	10.14%
TOTAL	30	16.3	1.60	54.29%	24.43	1.88	81.43%	135.72%

 

 

 

 

Area wise comparison of mean and standard deviation of the knowledge scores in pre-test and post-test reveals an increase in the mean knowledge score of the animal handlers after planned teaching programme.

 

Comparison of area wise mean and SD of the knowledge scores in the area of “general information about Brucellosis shows that the pre test mean knowledge score was 10.63 with SD ±1.60 which was 54.29 % of total score, whereas post-test mean of knowledge score in this area was 24.43 with SD ±.1.88 which was 81.43% of total score. The effectiveness of planned teaching programme in this area was mean knowledge score of 8.13 which was 27.7% of total score (Table 5.3).    

 

In the area of knowledge on “animal handles of  Brucellosis, pre-test mean knowledge score was 10.63with SD ± 1.3  which was 35.43 % of total score, where as post-test mean knowledge score was 15.13 with SD ±1.61 which was 52.43.% of total score. The effectiveness of   planned teaching programme in this area was mean knowledge score of 4.50 which was 15% of total score (Table 5.3).

 

In the area of knowledge on “knowledge regarding prevention of   Brucellosis”,  pre-test mean knowledge score was 5.66 with SD ± 0.88  which was 18.86% of total score, where as post-test mean knowledge score was 8.7with SD ± 0.74 which was 29% of total score. The effectiveness of   planned teaching programme in this area was mean knowledge score of 3.04 which was 10.3% of total score (Table 5.3).

 

The post-test knowledge score (24.43±1.88) was more when compared to the pre-test knowledge score (16.3±1.3). The effectiveness of   planned teaching programme on Brucellosis was mean knowledge score of 8..13 which was 27.1% of total score .It shows that the planned teaching programme was effective in enhancing the knowledge of common village people (Table 5.3).

 

Part-III: Testing of Hypothesis:

To evaluate the effectiveness of planned teaching programme, a research hypothesis was formulated.

H₁:- There is a significant difference between pre-test and post-test knowledge scores of animal handlers regarding Brucellosis.

 

Paired ‘t’ test was used to find out the significance of the differences between the pre-test knowledge and post test knowledge scores of animal handlers regarding Brucellosis.

 

Table 5: Significant difference between the pre-test knowledge and post test knowledge scores of animal handlers.

level of significance: 0.05, DF: 49

 

As the calculated t value (17.70) was much higher than table ‘t’ value (2.02) the hypothesis: To find the Significant difference between the pre test knowledge post test knowledge score regarding Brucellosis paired t test was calculated to find the effectiveness of planned teaching programme. The value of standard error was  0.59 Mean of difference was 11.22  standard deviation of differences was 4.16. The calculated t value was 19.04 which was more than the table value 2.04 at 5% level of significance, which shows that the alternative hypothesis.

H2; there is a significant difference between the post test and pre test knowledge score was accepted. Hence planned teaching programme was highly effective in improving the knowledge of student nurses regarding post exposure of prophylaxis.

 

Section 4: Association between the socio demographic factors and knowledge of animal handlers regarding Brucellosis

Table 6: association between knowledge regarding Brucellosis and selected socio demographic variables  N=30

level of significance = 0.05.

 

 

The calculated t value in all the areas of knowledge was higher than the table t value indicating the planned teaching programme be effective in all the areas of knowledge regarding brucellosis among animal handlers.

 

Association between knowledge regarding PEP and selected socio demographic variables was determined by chi square test. As the calculated chi square calculated values such as age (0.918), gender (0.0024), marital status(0.267), religion(0.428),  education status(0.067), Income  of the family(0.15), source of information (0.362), working hours(0.135), Attending programme (0.267), at regarding Brucellosis  knowledge(0.1772), there was some statistical significant association found between level of knowledge and socio demographic variable at 5% level of significance. Thus the hypothesis; H₂; There is significant associated between the socio demographic variables and levels of knowledge regarding Brucellosis among animal handlers was rejected.

 

CONCLUSION:

The study concluded that in pre-test shows out of 30 subjects 2(7%) had good knowledge, 27(90%) had average knowledge followed by 1 (3%) subject with poor and 0 (0%) with very poor knowledge of village people regarding Brucellosis. Where as in post test out of 30 common people 43% had excellent knowledge. 57% had good knowledge, and remaining 0%had average knowledge and no subjects were found in the category of poor or very poor knowledge. Thus it shows that Brucellosis was successful in improving the knowledge of animal handlers regarding Brucellosis.  

 

RECOMMENDATIONS:

Based on findings of the study the following recommendations are made - A similar study can be undertaken with a large sample to generalize the findings

·      A similar study can be undertaken with a control group.

·      A similar study can be undertaken on patients with old age health problems.

·      A comparative study can be conducted to assess the knowledge of urban and rural of care givers of old age health problems 

·      Same study can be conducted by using different teaching modalities 

 

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Received on 19.07.2018           Modified on 25.07.2018

Accepted on 03.08.2018     © A&V Publications all right reserved