Effectiveness of an ‘Instructional Teaching Programme’ (ITP) on the Knowledge of Postnatal Mothers regarding Newborn Care

Abstract

The challenge of newborn health faced by India is more than any other country in the world. Globally out of 3.9 million, 30% neonatal deaths occur in India. A Quasi-experimental study was undertaken to assess the effectiveness of an 'Instructional Teaching Programme' (ITP) on the Knowledge of Postnatal Mothers regarding Newborn Care in multi-specialty, teaching hospital in Uttarakhand. Total 62 postnatal mothers were selected by consecutive sampling technique. The pre-test was taken by using structured knowledge questionnaire designed by researcher and validated by the various experts in the specific field followed by Instructional Teaching Programme. After 7 days post-test was taken. The overall mean pre-test knowledge score of postnatal mothers was (30±4.3) which reveals that mothers had good level of knowledge and mean post-test knowledge score of postnatal mothers was (42±1.1) which revealed that mothers had very good level of knowledge and 't' value for total pretest and posttest was 22.22. Area wise post-test highest mean percentage was (96%) in the area of breast feeding and the lowest mean percentage was (88.88%) in the area of prevention of low body temperature. No significant association was found between pretest knowledge scores with their demographic variables except age. The findings of the study concluded that 'Instructional Teaching Programme' (ITP) was effective to increase the knowledge of postnatal mothers regarding newborn care. Keywords- Instructional Teaching Programme, Knowledge, Newborn Care, Postnatal Mothers I. INTRODUCTION A healthy population is the nations prosperity. Healthy children today, make a healthier nation tomorrow. The role of the mother in creating a healthy nation is eminent and beyond explanation. 1 Among the life span of the childhood period. The neonatal period is very crucial to large extent determines the overall health status of the child and in turn adult life. Birth is a major challenge to the newborn to negotiate successfully from intrauterine to extrauterine life. The newborn baby is considered to be tiny and powerless, completely dependent on others for life. 2 Neonates are at risk for various health problems, even though they are born with average birth weights. The morbidity and mortality rates in newborn infants are high. They need optimal care for improved survival. Neonatal care is highly cost-effective because saving the life of a newborn baby is associated with survival and productivity of the future adult. Although parents are ultimately responsible for this care, nurses usually assume a major care-giving role while the infant is in the nursery. 3, 4