A study to assess the effectiveness of structured teaching program (STP) on knowledge regarding healthy food habits for children among mothers of school age children (6-12years) in selected urban areas at Hassan, Karnataka

Abstract

A study was conducted on evaluating the effect of structured teaching program on healthy food habits for children. A pre-experimental one group pre-test post-test design approach was utilized to achieve the overall and comprehensive purpose. The research approach adopted for this study is an evaluative and educative approach. The sample consists of 60 mothers of school age children (6–12 yrs) in Pensionmohalla at Hassan, Karnataka. Samples were selected by using Non probability convenient sampling technique. The results of the study showed that pretest overall knowledge score regarding healthy food habits for children was 38.4%, mean and SD was 11.52±2.22. The post test overall knowledge score was 81.8%, mean and SD was 24.55±2.30. Hence the difference between pretest and post test overall knowledge score was above 43.4%. So the results of the study shows difference between the pre-test and post-test knowledge score of the mothers of school age children (6–12 yrs) regarding healthy food habits for children is statistically significant and this difference is due to the structured teaching program on healthy food habits for children. There is a significant association between the post-test knowledge score in the selected socio demographic variables like age, educational status of mother, number of children, previous information regarding healthy food habits for children and residence. The findings of this study support the need for mothers to understand regarding, healthy food habits for children. This study has proved that the mothers have a remarkable increase in the Knowledge regarding healthy food habits for school age children, when compared to their knowledge before the intervention. Thus for the future outlook there is a need to improve the knowledge and food habits of children by conducting the teaching and training programmes on healthy food habits among parents and children.