A Study to Assess the Effectiveness of the Structured Teaching Programme, on Knowledge Regarding Swine Flu Among Secondary School Going Children in Selected School at Karad

Background Swine flu (swine influenza) is a respiratory disease caused by viruses (influenza viruses) that infect the respiratory tract of pigs and result in nasal secretions, a barking-like cough, decreased appetite, and listless behavior. It is caused due to new influenza virus called H1N1 virus. Swine flu virus targets the body's respiratory cells and damages the lining of the respiratory tract, leading to swelling and inflammation of the tract. Identification of disease is based on clinical symptoms and confirmation is done by various laboratory tests using PCR based kits. Treatment mainly involves use of different Antiviral drugs along with involvement of Indian system of medicine to some extent. The best treatment for swine influenza infection in humans is prevention by vaccination. Aim& Objectives: To determine the existing knowledge and to evaluate the effectiveness of structured teaching programme regarding preventive management of swine flu among the school going children. Material& Methods: A pre test and post test was adopted in the present study to accomplish the objectives. Purposive sampling technique was used to select samples. The sample consists of 50 children. The pre test assessment of knowledge of the children was carried out using the structured knowledge questionnaires followed by STP session regarding swine flu. After 4 days the post test was conducted using the same structured knowledge questionnaires. The collected data was analyzed by using descriptive and inferential statistics. Result& Conclusion: Reveals that in pre-test 18 (20%) student are had poor knowledge, the majority 31 (62%) had average knowledge and 9 (18%) had good knowledge regarding knowledge of swine flu and its protective measures. Where as in post-test majority 29 (58%) student had average knowledge, 16 (32%) had good knowledge and 5 (10%) student had poor knowledge regarding knowledge swine flu and protective measures. There is significant difference between gender of the student (6.474)& age of the students (4.645). There is No significant difference between students knowledge& educational qualification of parents (1.754).