Effect of a Planned Teaching Programme on Knowledge Regarding Prevention of Dental Caries among Mothers of Preschool Children in Rural Jabalpur

Abstract

Background: Dental caries is considered as common yet avoidable childhood ailments worldwide. Untreated dental caries leads to pain, contamination, sleep disruption and school absence, affecting children's life quality and their families' wellbeing. Therefore present study aims to examine the efficacy of planned teaching module on knowledge concerning prevention of dental caries among the mothers of school going children. 

Method: Quantitative approach comprising pre-experimental one group pretest post-test research design adopted.  A sample of 100 mothers of rural areas of Jabalpur District (M.P.) selected as sample through convenient sampling technique.

Results: The mean pre – test knowledge score was 7.27 with mean percentage score 36.35%. Average post–test knowledge score as 15.26 with mean percentage score 76.30%. The mean variation is seen as +7.99, showing absolute enhancement of 39.95%. The Paired ‘t’ test calculation 49.78 was significant at p=0.0001.  This shows that there is significant variation among the pre test and post test knowledge level among mothers of school-aged children after planned teaching module concerning prevention of dental caries. There was relevant association discovered between the pre-test knowledge level among mothers with demographic traits like educational status, monthly family income, mother’s occupation and birth order of the child.

Conclusion: Findings of our study strongly recommend periodic educational drive regarding prevention of dental caries among mothers of school going children especially in rural areas.