Effectiveness of Self-Instructional Module on Knowledge of Mothers Regarding Special Vaccines against Communicable Disease for Under-Five Children in a Selected Urban Community at Mangalore

Children are innocent, trusting and full of hope. Their childhood should be joyful and loving. Their lives should mature gradually, as they gain new experiences. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of self-instructional module on knowledge of mothers regarding special vaccines against communicable diseases for under-five children in a selected urban community at Mangalore. Objectives of the study: 1) To determine the mean pre-test knowledge level of mothers regarding special vaccines against communicable disease for under-five children. 2) To determine the mean post-test knowledge level of mothers regarding special vaccines against communicable disease for under-five children. 3) To identifythe effectiveness of SIM on knowledge of mothers regarding special vaccines against communicable disease for under-five children in terms of gain in mean post - test knowledge score. 4) To find out the association between mean pre - test knowledge scores and selected demographic variables. Methods: An evaluative approach with one group pre-test post-test design was adopted for the study. Through non-probability purposive sampling technique 60 samples were selected. A structured knowledge questionnaire was used to assess the knowledge of mothers on special vaccines against communicable disease for under-five children. Data was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Result: Findings of the present study reveal that in the pre-test of the mothers 15% obtained inadequate knowledge score, 81.7% obtained moderate and 3.3% had adequate knowledge score. In the post-test 98.3% obtained adequate knowledge score and 1.7% obtained moderate knowledge score.Paired ‘t' test showed that there was significant improvement between pre-test and post-test knowledge with ‘t' value of 26.5 (t59=1.67, P<0.05). The calculated chi square values of education of the mother (3.077) and number of children (6.240) were found significant. However, the chi square value of other variables such as age of mother (1.493), age of the child (0.00), type of family (1.017) and income of the family (2.032) are not found significant at 0.05 level of significant. Therefore, there is no association between the pre-test knowledge score and the selected demographic variable except education of the mother and number of children. Interpretation and conclusion: Mothers must know about special vaccines to prevent communicable diseases for their under-five children. The study findings revealed that the knowledge score of mothers were less before the introduction of self-instructional module. The self-instructional module facilitated them to gain more knowledge about special vaccines against communicable diseases for under-five children which were evident in post test knowledge scores. Hence self-instructional module was an effective strategy for providing information and to improve knowledge of mothers which was well appreciated and accepted by the mothers.