A Study to Assess the Effectiveness of Structured Teaching Program on Knowledge Regarding Hazards of Plastic on Health and Environment among Adults in Selected Community Areas of Bharatpur Metropolitan City, Ward No-4 Chitwan, Nepal

Increasing the use of plastics, improper disposal and poorly managed recycling system of their waste has led to serious loss in biodiversity, soil fertility and created an increased risk in public health in Nepal. In order to assess the awareness regarding the hazards of plastic use on health and environment, a study was carried out at the selected community area of Bharatpur Metropolitan-4, Chitwan, Nepal in 2020. The study adopted one group pre-test post-test design with structured- questionnaire. The sample size was thirty adults. Data was collected using non probability convenient sampling. The data collection were analyzed and interpreted by using descriptive and inferential statistics. In the study area, 50 % of respondents were having the age group of 22-32 years, 74 % were secondary and higher secondary level, 47 % were joint family type, 53 % were housewife, 40 % had salary of above NRs.15000 and 90 % were Hindu. Among them, 46.7 used dustbins, 26.7 % threw in open land and 26.7 did burning for waste management. Education level, Family type and monthly income had not significantly influenced on mean pre-test knowledge score regarding plastic use. After intervention of short term training the impact was clearly seen in the respondents. The respondents’ knowledge on storing hot food and impact of burnt plastic were highly significant at 1 % level having chi square value of 24.16 and 11.36 respectively. Similarly respondents’ knowledge associated with plastic smoke inhalation, plastic use risk for pregnant woman and time taken for plastic decompose was found significant at 5 % level having chi square value of 9.17, 5.89 and 9.82 respectively. After implementing short term teaching method, overall pre-test mean knowledge score of 9.5 was significantly enhanced to 20.46 at 1 % level which indicated that the teaching method was effective to reduce the hazards of plastics in the study area.