Effectiveness of Information, Education and Communication Package on Knowledge regarding Sexual Awareness among adolescent girls at selected schools in Kanniyakumari District

 

Mrs. C. Shyni, Dr. Reeta Jebakumari Solomon

Thasaiah College of Nursing, Marthandam, Kanyakumari District, Tamil Nadu, India

 

ABSTRACT:

Background of the Study: Adolescent is the period of transition between childhood and adulthood, a time of rapid physical, social, sexual and emotional maturation. Most adolescents deal with these changes without adequate knowledge and understanding which could cause issues such as, teenage pregnancy, sexual abuse, unhealthy sexual behaviour and HIV/AIDS. The nurses have an enabling role to help the adolescent to increase knowledge on sexual awareness by using IEC package. The aim of the study is to evaluate the effectiveness of information education and Communication package on knowledge regarding sexual awareness among adolescent girls at selected schools in Kanyakumari District. Materials and method: Quasi experimental pre-test post-test control group design was adopted. The sample size consisted of 100 adolescent girls, 50 in experimental group and 50 in control group. The conceptual frame work is based on Sister Callista Roy’s Adaptation Model. Purposive sampling technique was adopted. Demographic data and structured questionnaire on sexual awareness was used data collection. IEC was given for 30 minutes, once a week for 4 weeks. Result: In experimental group 52% of adolescent girls had inadequate awareness. After providing IEC package, no one had inadequate awareness and 100% had adequate awareness. There was a significant improvement in mean post test awareness score 20.08 in experimental group (MD = 12.36, t value =18.76 p<.000). The mean post-test level of awareness score 20.08 among adolescent girls in experimental group was greater than the mean post test level of awareness score 8.56 among adolescent girls in Control group (MD =11.52 t, =21.77 p<.000). Conclusion: The study proved that IEC programme is an effective teaching strategy in improving the knowledge regarding sexual awareness among adolescent girls.

 

 

INTRODUCTION:

Human life completes its voyage through various stages and most indispensable is adolescence. Adolescence is the duration of transition from childhood to adulthood. (FaziaNavas, 2011) Lots of adolescents still doesn’t have the liberty to information and education on sexuality, reproduction and sexual health and rights, nor do they approach the preventive and corrective administration.

Providing adolescents with access to search information education and services is thus the main task for future programmes. The status of the young and adult females in society and how they are dealt with or abused is a vital element of their reproductive health. Education open doors for girls and women effectively influence their status and the control they have over their own lives and their health and richness. In certain nations, complications of risky premature birth are the driving reason for death among teenage girls.

 

Dr. AS Kundu has formulated the module such that instructors can serenely show it in schools. He has used simple yet intriguing portrayals that may help students comprehended the text. Sexual health education includes the push to forestall undesirable sexual acts, remarks or advances, including sex dealing to anyone in any situation regardless of the relationship between the victim and the offender. This effort consists of preventing sexual coercion, blackmail, social awareness or other forms of indulgences. It is critical to high light that sexual viciousness, rape, teen pregnancy, risky sexual behaviour awareness STD, HIV, AIDS in modifying the adolescent behaviour, which is characterized as the physically forced insertion of a person using a body part of an object. (Hakimi, 2001).

 

The nurses have an important enabling and facilitating role to help the adolescent girls to increase the knowledge of sexual awareness. Information education and communication is easy to perform without any risk and with minimal expenses. The noticeable substantiation that information education and communication increase the knowledge of sexual awareness and help to prevent the peer pressure, sexual abuse, forced marriage, teen pregnancy and depression.

 

NEED FOR THE STUDY:

Most parents do not debate subjects related to sexual problems. Consequently, many teens turn to peers and media for related information which leads to vague information with disordered and often provide contradictory messages regarding sex and other related issues. Sex education is necessary for an adolescent to offer them positive direction, right information which would stay away from superfluous stresses and strains. For instance, numerous adolescent girls without legitimate knowledge about menstruation are stunned to find themselves bleeding during that phase, parents and teachers have to be very tactful. So that girls do not obtain incorrect information which leads to teenage pregnancies outside marriage which are ascending in India. Parents often accuse the unreasonable impact of film and counsellors blame ignorance.

 

Gupta, et al., (2013) conducted a cross-sectional study amid students of 11th & 12th standard in Lucknow, India to evaluate the knowledge about HIV/AIDS. Data were accumulated from 215 students by using both open and close-ended questions related to HIV/AIDS. Data were analysed using SPSS 17.0 version. The result revealed modes of spreading of HIV/AIDS that it was conveyed through unprotected sex (92.0% students). However, knowledge of students about high-risk group and curability (39%) of HIV/AIDS was not reasonable. Therefore, the study concluded the school authorities and the others concerned should come forward to design awareness campaigns.

Sexual awareness, if left unnoticed and unmanaged lead to peer pressure, sexual abuse, forced marriage, teen pregnancy, and depression. Having experience in teaching with adolescent girls, the researcher realized the importance of need for increased sexual awareness based on the studies related to the Information, Education and Communication. The researcher felt that it was a strong need to study the effect of Information, Education and Communication package on sexual awareness of adolescent girls.

 

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM:

A study to assess the effectiveness of Information, education and communication package on knowledge regarding sexual awareness among adolescent girls at selected schools in Kanyakumari District.

 

OBJECTIVES:

1.     To assess the level of knowledge regarding sexual awareness among adolescent girls

2.     To find out the effectiveness of information, education and communication package on knowledge regarding sexual awareness among adolescent girls.

3.     To determine the association between the pre-test level of sexual awareness and selected demographic variables such as age, education, occupation of parents, family monthly income, type of family, religion, area of residence, father’s and mother’s educational status previous source of information and relationship with peer group.

 

HYPOTHESIS:

H1:  The mean post-test score of sexual awareness will be significantly higher than the mean pre-test score of sexual awareness in the experimental group who had information education and communication.

H2:  The mean post-test score of sexual awareness among adolescent girls in the experimental group will be higher than the mean post test score of sexual awareness in control group.

H3:  There will be a significant association between the pre-test score of sexual awareness among adolescent girls and selected variables such as age, education, occupation of parents, family monthly income, type of family, religion, area of residence, father’s and mother’s educational status previous source of information and relationship with peer group.

 

RESEARCH APPROACH:

The investigator used a quantitative approach for the study to assess the effectiveness of information, education and communication package training program on sexual awareness among adolescent girls.

 

 

Research Design:

The research design used in this study was a quasi-experimental pre-test, post-test and control group research design.

 

Study subject	Pre-test	Intervention	Post-Test
Experimental group Control group	O1 O1	X1 -	O2 O2

 

Key:

O₁  Pre-test level of sexual awareness

X₁  Information education and communication package on sexual awareness

O₂  Post-test level of sexual awareness

 

Variables:

Independent variable:

In this study, the dependent variable is information, education and communication package.

 

Dependent variable:

In this study, the dependent variable is sexual awareness.

 

Extraneous variable:

In this research study, it refers to demographic profile which consists variables such as age, education, occupation of parent, family monthly income, type of family, religion, area of residence, father’s and mother’s educational status, previous source of information and relationship with the peer group.

 

Research Settings:

The settings adopted for this study was Infant Jesus Matriculation Higher Secondary school at Mamootukadai and VidhyaJothi Matriculation Higher secondary school, Marthandam, Kanyakumari District. The experimental group of this study selected from Infant Jesus Matriculation Higher Secondary school which consists of 1500 students. Out of 1500 students 65 students are studying in 9^thstandard.This school comprises of L.K. G to 12^thstandard.This school has only English medium. This is a co-education school. It is located in 5 Kilometers away from Thasiah College of Nursing, Marthandam. The adolescents for the control group of this study where selected from VidhyaJothi Matriculation Higher secondary school, Marthandam. It is located 2 Kilometres away from Thasiah College of Nursing, which consists of 800 students. Out of 800 students 70 students are studying in 9^thstandard.This school also has an English medium. This is a co-education school. The investigator selected these schools because of the proximity to the college and adequate availability of the samples.

 

Population:

Target Population:

In this study, the target population will be the adolescent girls in selected schools at Kanyakumari district.

Accessible Population:

In this study accessible population is adolescent girls with lack of sexual awareness.

 

Sample:

In this study sample, the sample was the adolescent girls who fulfilled the inclusion criteria.

 

Sample size:

In this study, the sample size is 100 adolescent girls with sexual awareness who satisfied the inclusion criteria among those 50 adolescent girls were for allocated in the experimental group and 50 adolescent girls were allocated for the control group.

 

Sampling Technique:

Purposive sampling technique was adopted to find out the adolescent girls who are studying in 9^th standard Infant Jesus matriculation higher secondary school, Mamootukadai and VidhyaJothi Matriculation Higher Secondary School Marthandam.  The investigator selected the samples based on the inclusion criteria.

 

METHOD OF DATA COLLECTION:

Step 1 Selection of Adolescent girls:

Formal permission was obtained for the Infant Jesus Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Mamootukadai and VidhyaJothi Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Marthandam. The researcher introduced herself to the teachers and students explain about the need for the study without disturbing the routine.  An entire sample of the main study will be 100 adolescents (50 adolescents in the experimental group, 50 adolescents in the control group) in this study.

 

Step 2: Pre testing adolescent girls:

Data were gathered from adolescent girls’ demographic data and needed data using sexual awareness questionnaire.

 

Intervention:

After the pre-test assessment, the IEC package regarding sexual awareness was given to the adolescent girls those who had inadequate awareness in the experimental group. This teaching was given for 30 minutes, once a week for 4 weeks.

 

Post Assessment of Adolescent Girls:

Among adolescent girls in the experimental group, the awareness level was assessed by the same structured questionnaire after administering Information, Education and Communication. The same was done in the control group without giving the intervention.

 

 

 

DATA ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION:

Table -1 Comparison of pre-test and post-test levels of knowledge regarding sexual awareness among adolescent girls in experimental group                                                                                                                                                                                                      n=50

Groups	Test	Mean	SD	Mean Difference	Paired ‘t’ test	Level of significant
Experimental group	Pre test	7.72	3.27	12.36	18.76*	.000 *
	Post test	20.08	2.21

* Significance at .000 level

 

H0₁ There will be no significant difference between pre-test and post test scores among adolescent girls in experimental group.

 

The hypothesis was tested using paired ‘t’-test method.

 

The table 1 summarizes that the mean pre-test mean level of knowledge in experimental group was 7.72 which was more than the post-test mean level of knowledge scores 20.08. The obtained ‘t’ value for the level of knowledge score on 18.76 in experimental group were statistically highly significant p<.000. This indicate that the mean differences is 12.36 is true difference and has not occurred by chance.

 

The above findings fail to support null hypothesis. Hence the researcher rejects the null hypothesis and accept the research hypothesis. This proves that the Information, Education, and Communication packages were effective and improving knowledge regarding sexual awareness among adolescent girls in experimental group.

 

Table 2 Comparison of post-test level of knowledge regarding sexual awareness among adolescent girls in experimental group and control group.                                                      N=100

	Test	Mean	SD	MD	‘t’ test	Level of Significant
Experimental group	Post test	20.08	2.21	11.52	21.77	.000*
Control group	post test	8.56	3.08

*Significant at 0.001 level

 

HO₂ There will be no significant difference in the post test score of knowledge regarding sexual awareness among adolescent girls in the experimental group and control group.

 

The hypothesis was tested by using unpaired ‘t’ test.

 

Table: 2 summarizes that in the post test mean level of knowledge score in the experimental group was 20.08 and in the control group was 8.56. The obtained ‘t’ value, 21.77 were statistically high significant at p<.000 level. This indicates that the mean difference of 11.52 level of knowledge score the true difference has not occur by chance. The above findings fail to support the null hypothesis. Hence the researcher rejects the null hypothesis and accept the research hypothesis. This proves that the Information, Education, and Communication packages were effective and improving knowledge regarding sexual awareness among adolescent girls in experimental group.

 

The above findings are supported by the findings of TusharRai, Pradeep Aggarwal and Kandpal. S. D, (Oct 2013). who conducted a cross sectional study to assess the knowledge awareness and practice among adolescents regarding sexually transmitted diseases in an urban slum in Dehradun. The result shows that 166 adolescent school students the mean (±SD) pre-test score of the experimental group on knowledge about Sexually Transmitted Diseases was 36.82 (± 15.89) and of the control group was 39.42 (± 0.07). After administration of the IEC program the ex-group got a score of (83.62±10.59) and the control group with conventional teaching method got a score of (42.51± 09.08) was statically significant (p<0.001). The study concluded that appropriate health care seeking behaviour and Information Education and Communication (IEC) activities should be promoted.

 

CONCLUSION:

The present study is to evaluate the effectiveness of information education and Communication package on knowledge regarding sexual awareness among adolescent girls at selected schools in Kanyakumari District. In experimental group 52% of adolescent girls had inadequate awareness. After providing IEC package, no one had inadequate awareness and 100% had adequate awareness. There was a significant improvement in mean post test awareness score 20.08 in experimental group (MD = 12.36, t value =18.76 p<.000).

 

NURSING IMPLICATION:

The researcher has derived the following implications from the study result which add greater value to the field of nursing service, nursing administration, nursing education and nursing research.

 

Nursing service:

·       The gynaecological nurse can combine and work with other health team members in improving knowledge regarding sexual awareness among adolescent girls in schools and colleges.

·       The nurse need to conduct health camp periodically and conduct health assessment and identify the problems that are caused mainly due to secondary sexual character, teen pregnancy, contraception, fertilization, menstruation and can provide health talk about sexual awareness.

·       Nurse need to be sensitive to observe the physical and psychological problems and clear the doubts regarding problems related to sexual awareness.

·       Mass awareness program can be conducted in the school and colleges.

·       Nurse has a great responsibility in educating the people regarding sexual awareness.

·       Nurse can improve communication and rapport with the adolescents.

·       Nurse need to be knowledgeable regarding the benefits of Information, Education and Communication program to improve the level of knowledge.

·       Continuous nursing education program should be arranged for nurse educators on importance of educating adolescent girls on sexual awareness.

 

Nursing education:

·       Nurse educator need to arrange for Information, Education and Communication for nursing students.

·       Nurse educator can communicate with school teachers and college staff and instruct them to provide education periodically and motivate the adolescent girls for betterment in their living.

·       Nurse educator can prepare the nursing students in order to give IEC program on sexual awareness by using different educational and teaching aids.

 

Nursing administration:

·       Nurse administrator need to take interest in motivating the nursing personnel to improve their professional knowledge and skill by attending the workshops, conferences, seminars on educating adolescent girls on sexual awareness.

·       Nurse administrator need to arrange regular in service program for the health care workers on educating adolescent girls on sexual awareness.

 

Nursing research:

·       The findings of the present study are helpful for the nursing professionals and nursing teachers to conduct further studies to find out the effectiveness of various methods of providing IEC on improving the knowledge regarding sexual awareness.

·       Nursing research can be focused on parents knowledge regarding sexual awareness and related problems.

 

LIMITATIONS:

·       The study was limited to the age group of 13-18 years.

·       The period of the study was be limited for 1 month.

·       The sample size was be limited to 100 only.

·       Long term follow up was not feasible.

 

RECOMMENDATION:

The following steps can be undertaken to strengthen the study, following recommendations are offered for further research.

·       A similar study can be conducted with large sample size to generalize the finding.

·       Counselling for adolescents should be included in the curriculum which will provide and awareness towards the disorder and lifestyle modification.

·       A study can be carried out for a longer period of time.

·       A study can be conducted in different setting such as rural and urban area.

 

REFERENCE:

1.               Dutta, D.C., (2015). Text Book of Obstetric. (8th edition). New Delhi: Jaypee Brothers and Medical Publishers (P) Ltd.

2.               Lowdermilk, Perry, Bobak. (2007). Maternity and woman health. (9th edition). Missouri: Mosby Elsevier.

3.               Rakhi Jain, (2016). Awareness of pubertal changes and reproductive health in adolescent girls: International journal of community. medicine and public health. Retrieved from http://dx.doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph201640

4.               D. Shaw, (2019). Three ways to tell a boy to stop touching, Retrieved from https://www.google.co.in/amp/s/m.wikihow.com/

5.               The Hindu,(2018).Nirmala Devi Case CB-CID files. Retrieved from  https://www.google.co.in/ amp/s/ www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamilnadu/nirmala-devi-case-cb-cid-files-supplementary-charges/article 24891834.ece/amp/

 

 

 

Received on 01.11.2019          Modified on 04.12.2019

Accepted on 07.01.2020     © A&V Publications all right reserved