Assessment of deworming practice among mothers of under five children in Kancheepuram district

Abstract

Background: Worm infestation is a major problem in children from developing countries due to poor sanitary and hygienic conditions. As the worm infestation is highly associated with the anaemia in children and generalized malnutrition as well as micronutrient malnutrition it is important to assess the deworming practice among mothers of under five children. Thus this study was aimed to assess the deworming practice to their children among mothers of under five children in Kancheepuram district and to find out the association between education level of the mothers and deworming practice, residence (rural/urban) of the mothers and deworming practice.Methods: A cross- sectional study was conducted among 208 mothers of under five children in the field practice area urban and rural health centre of Sree Balaji Medical College for duration of four month using a pretested questionnaire.Results: Among 208 mothers 105 (50.5%) is from rural and 103 (49.5%) is from urban. Among them 40 (19.2%) were illiterate and 168 (80.8%) were literate. About deworming practice 40 (19.2%) mothers have never done deworming to their children, 32 (15.4%) mothers have done deworming to their children only after the worm infestation symptoms appears and 136 (65.4%) mothers have done deworming to their children regularly. Education level of the mothers (p=0.000) and the residence (rural/urban) of the mothers (p=0.000) are significantly related to the deworming practice.Conclusions: Deworming practice among rural mothers and illiterate mothers is low. Hence awareness should be created among them about the deworming practice in preventing the complication caused by the worm infestation and should promote the habit of regular deworming to their children.