A Descriptive Study to Assess the Knowledge and Practice regarding prevention of Covid-19 Infection among parents of 10 Years Children attending the selected OPD and Immunization Clinic of AIIMS Raipur

 

Jayavel M¹, Binu Mathew², Pooja Bhakar³, Pooja Gupta³, Patricia Joseph³, Pooja Yadav³

¹College of Nursing, AIIMS Raipur.

²Assistant Professor, College of Nursing, AIIMS Raipur.

³Nursing officer, AIIMS Raipur.

 

ABSTRACT:

Background: Corona viruses are large group of viruses that causes illness in human and animals. The outbreak of novel corona virus (COVID -19) was initially noticed in a seafood market in Wuhan city in Hubei province of China in mid-December, 2019. Novel Corona virus spreading globally at very fast rate each and every individual is at risk. No treatments clinically proven to be effective yet. A global coordinated effort is needed to stop the further spread of the virus so assess the knowledge and practice regarding prevention of COVID infection among parents of under 10 years children. Method: A descriptive research design was employed among parents of children of under 10 years who are attending the selected OPDs and immunization clinic of AIIMS Raipur.  The size of the sample was 263. Non probability purposive sampling technique is used. The data collection tools are socio demographic proforma, knowledge questionnaire and checklist which is validated by experts. The data is collected through online mode via goggle form. Data analysis is done by descriptive and inferential statistics. Information regarding the clinical signs of the disease, modes of transmission, protection measures against COVID-19 and satisfaction with governmental measures was collected. Results: The analysis of data regarding the objective of the research findings reveals that out of 263 parents, 213(80.98%) were have adequate knowledge, 33(12.54%) have moderately adequate knowledge and 16(6.08%) have inadequate knowledge and out of 263 parents, 193(50.57%) parents are following good practice measures, (41.82%) are following moderately good practice and 20(7.60%) are following poor practice measures regarding prevention of COVID infection. There is significant association between knowledge and practice with selected demographic variables.

Conclusions: In summary, we believe that the findings reported here are important for understanding the clinical characteristics and vertical transmission potential of COVID‐19 infection in children, from the perspective of parents. The knowledge of parents about COVID‐19 in children was considered good in the case of most parents. This knowledge and practice helps with creating educational programs to increase awareness for areas that have weakness.

 

INTRODUCTION:

The new pandemic 2019 corona virus disease, also referred to as COVID-19 was initially noticed in a sea food market in Wuhan city of China in mid-December 2019. A pneumonia of unknown cause detected in Wuhan; China was first reported to the WHO country office in China on 31^st December 2019. The outbreak was declared a “PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENGY OF INTERNATIONAL CONCERN” by WHO on 30 January 2020. WHO declared COVID-19 a pandemic on 11^th march 2020.¹

 

India reported its first COVID-19 case on 30 January 2020, in Kasaragod town in the state of Kerala. The first confirmed case of corona virus in Chhattisgarh was reported on 19 March 2020 in Raipur, where a woman returning from London via Mumbai Airport was tested positive. COVID-19 is caused by a previously unreported strain of corona virus, officially named Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Corona virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). It primarily spreads person to person through close contact and contaminated surfaces, often via small droplets produced by the infected person through coughing, sneezing or talking. COVID-19 is most contagious immediately after the onset of symptoms, although the spread through asymptomatic cases has been reported. The incubation period is around 5 days (range, 2–14 days) and common symptoms include fever, cough and shortness of breath.²

 

Children and families have been deprived of their educational, work, and sport activities, but also from all their friendship and relational contacts. Suddenly parents had to manage their children at home from school 24 hours a day and, at the same time, most of them had to start smart-working from home, still carrying out their children’s school commitments. Many parents also had to manage difficulties and pain related to having sick or dead relatives, having had wages reductions, or in some cases, having lost their work. It is easy to understand how Indian families have been exposed to a very strong emotional and psychological stress.³

 

This situation had relevant repercussions on daily life of families, especially of children that have been deprived of their socialization and play spaces. The parents suddenly became the only point of reference for their children since the other references and educational figures were no longer available.

 

Therefore, it is important to empower people by educating them and effectively communicating accurate information about the preventive measures (e.g., hand washing, covering one’s mouth while coughing or sneezing, maintaining social distancing and self-isolation). Currently, parents are role models and advocate in their children's health. Good parenting skills are essential when children are restrained within their home. Apart from observing the performance and behavior of the child, parents should also respect their children's needs and protect them against any danger. Changing perception is a vital objective of WHO to minimize COVID-19 in the whole population and especially in children. Therefore, surveying the knowledge, practice of parents about COVID-19 is essential. The knowledge and practice of parents on COVID-19 in their children has not been studied. The findings of this study will help in developing educational plans about the appropriate methods of teaching parents about COVID-19 and its prevention in children. This research helps us to know the knowledge and practice regarding COVID-19 in children, including clinical signs of the disease, modes of transmission and protection measures.⁴

 

METHOD AND MATERIALS:

Study design and sample size:

A descriptive research design was employed among parents of children of under 10 years who are attending the selected OPDs and immunization clinic of AIIMS Raipur. The study aimed to assess the knowledge and practice regarding prevention of COVID infection among parents of under 10 years children. The size of the sample was 263 and Non probability purposive sampling technique was used.

 

Ethical consideration:

Ethical clearance was obtained from the Institutional Ethics Committee wide letter no. : 1621/IEC-AIIMSRPR/2021. Data were collected after getting formal permission from the concerned authorities. An online informed consent was taken from each participants after explaining the purpose of the study.

 

Data collection measures:

A self-structured questionnaire was used for data collection, which was validated by experts and was found reliable. The assessment questionnaire was found to be 80% reliable with split – half method = 0.80. Questionnaire consisted three sections: (The data collection tools are socio demographic Performa (It includes age of parents, sex, level of education, monthly income of family, living area, occupation of parents, source of information regarding COVID-19.) knowledge questionnaire (This tool included 20 questions from area of infection, incubation period, modes of transmission, preventive measures and affected population.) and checklist(Items will be added to the tools regarding the practices for prevention of COVID infection among parents of under 10 years of children and whether they are following or not.) which is validated by experts. The data is collected through online mode via goggle form. Information regarding the clinical signs of the disease, modes of transmission, protection measures against COVID-19 and satisfaction with governmental measures was collected.

 

 

Statistical analysis:

Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for the analysis of data as per the study objectives and hypothesis. In the descriptive analysis, calculations were done by using frequency and percentage. In the Inferential statistics Chi-square was used to determine the association between knowledge and practice with selected demographic variable.

 

RESULTS:

Frequency and percentage distribution of demographic variables among parents of under 10 years children related to COVID-19

The analysis revealed that:

With regard to Age of Parents:

Out of 263 samples, 124(47.10%) sample were between 18-25 years of age, 83 (31.60%) were between 26-32 years of age, 56 (21.20%) were above 32 years of age.

With regard to Sex of Parents:

Out of 263, 136 (51.80%) were females and 127 (48.20%) were males, none were transgender.

Concerning the Occupation of Parents:

Out of 263 samples, 34 (9.12%) were Health care sector (Govt), 42(12.1%) were Non- Health Care sector (Govt), 15 (5.70%) were Health Care Sector (private), 125 (17.10%) were Non- Health Care Sector (private) and 46 (15.5%) were others.

With regard to Level of Education of parents:

Out of 263 samples, 5 (1.90%) were illiterate, 18 (6.80%) were primary, 54(20.53%) were Secondary, 148 (56.20%) were Graduate, 38 (14.40%) were Post Graduate.

In relation to Monthly income:

Out of 263 samples, 91 (34.60%) were below 10, 000, 65 (25.60%) were between 10000-30000, 73 (28.70%) were between 30000, 60000, 25 (9.50%) were above 60000incomes.

In relation to Living area:

Out of 263 samples, 160 (60.80%) were living in rural area and 103 (39.16%) were living in urban area.

 

TABLE 1.1: Illustrate the frequency distribution and percentage of parent’s knowledge regarding prevention of COVID infection of under 10year children.

 

Concerning the Source of information regarding COVID 19:

Out of 263 samples, 107 (41.20%) got information through social media, 105 (40.40%) through News channel, 59 (22.70%) through Google and Search engine, 106 (40.80%) through family and friends, 60 (23.10%) through Newspaper.

 

The results revealed that:

Out of 263 samples, 213 (80.98%) parents were having adequate knowledge, 33 (12.54%) have moderately adequate knowledge, and 16 (6.08%) have inadequate knowledge regarding prevention of COVID 19 infection.

 

TABLE 1.2 Frequency distribution and percentage of parent’s practice regarding prevention of COVID infection of under 10year children.

 

 

 

The data presented in table 1.2 shows that majority (73.38%) of the total sample had good practice, 19.01% had moderate practice and 7.60% had poor practice regarding preventive measures of COVID-19 infection.

 

The data in table no 1.4(A) shows that the association between knowledge score and gender (x²-13.13, p-0.001), income (x² -14.55, P-0.023) were highly significant. However the association between knowledge score and other demographic variables like age, educational status, source of information regarding COVID-19, living area, occupation were not significant at 0.05 level. It was observed that calculated chi square value was more than the table value. Hence there was a significant association between knowledge and selected demographics variables of COVID infection. Therefore, the investigators reject the null hypothesis.

 

Table no. 1.3 - Association between level of knowledge among parents of under 10 years children with their selected demographic variables:

NS= Not significance   S= Significance

 

Table 1.4 Association between level of practice among parents of under 10 years children with their selected demographic variables

 

The data in above table no 1.4(B) shows that the association between practice score and income (x²- 17.99, p-0.006), living area (x² -16.20, P-0.0003) were highly significant. However the association between practice score and other demographic variables like age, educational status, gender, source of information regarding COVID-19, occupation were not significant at 0.05 level. It was observed that calculated chi square value was more than the table value. Hence there was a significant association between practice and selected demographics variables of COVID-19 infection. Therefore, the investigators reject the null hypothesis.

 

Findings of the study based on the objective is

1)    To assess the knowledge and practice regarding prevention of COVID infection among parents of under 10year children:

KNOWLEDGE-The analysis of data regarding the objective of the research findings reveals that out of 263 samples, 213(80.98%) were have adequate knowledge, 33(12.54%) have moderately adequate knowledge and 16(6.08%) have inadequate knowledge.

PRACTICE- The analysis of data regarding the objective of the research findings reveals that out of 263 samples, 193(50.57%) parents are following good practice measures, (41.82%) are following moderately good practice and 20(7.60%) are following poor practice measures regarding prevention of COVID infection.

 

2)    To find out the association between knowledge and practice regarding COVID infection with selected demographic variables of parents of under 10 children:

The study findings shows that the association between knowledge score and gender (x²-13.13, p-0.001), income (x² -14.55, P-0.023) were highly significant. However, the association between knowledge score and other demographic variables like age, educational status, source of information regarding COVID-19, living area, occupation was not significant at 0.05 level. It was observed that calculated chi-square value was more than the table value. Hence there was a significant association between knowledge and practice and selected demographics variables of COVID infection. Therefore, the investigators reject the null hypothesis.

 

CONCLUSION:

Quantitative research approach and descriptive survey research design was adopted and data was collected by demographic proforma, structured knowledge questionnaire and checklist which was prepared on the basis of review of literature and with the help of the subject experts, the content validity of tool was obtained from experts. Reliability of the tool was elicited by using split half method. The statistically analysis Karl Pearson correlation coefficient was found to be 0.8 value which was correlated. Therefore, the instrument was found to be reliable. A total 263 sample who met the inclusive criteria were selected by non-probability random sampling technique. Consent was obtained from the clients and data were collected through online demographic proforma and checklist. The analysis was done using descriptive statistics. After collecting needed information from parents of children under 10years we came to the point that some parents were aware about COVID infection and its preventive measures.

 

RECOMMENDATIONS:

The study can be conducted with large number of samples to generalize the findings. Descriptive study should be reviewed from time to time in order to include current knowledge regarding preventive measures of covid-19 infection among parents of under 10year children and comparative study may be conducted to assess the knowledge of prevention measures followed among parents of under 10 years children attending the selected OPD and immunization clinic of AIIMS Raipur.

 

REFERENCES

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Received on 30.12.2021           Modified on 05.07.2022

Accepted on 01.12.2022          © A&V Publications all right reserved