A Study to Assess the Effectiveness of a Structured Teaching Program on Knowledge Regarding Home Based Care of Mentally Retarded Children among Caregivers in Selected Special Schools

Mental illness is one of the leading diseases all over the world. Intellectual disability (ID), also known as general learning disability, and mental retardation (MR), is generalized neuro developmental disorder. A quasi-experimental study with evaluative research approach was conducted at special schools. The sample comprised of 60 care givers of mentally retarded children who were selected by using simple random sampling technique. Structured teaching program was given to the subjects. Data was collected using a self structured questionnaire. Data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The results of this study showed that majority of care givers of children were having poor knowledge score. There was an improvement in the knowledge of the care givers of the mentally retarded children after providing structured teaching program.