DOI Number: 10.37506/mlu.v20i4.1812 Medico-legal Update, October-December 2020, Vol. 20, No.

4  273

Comparative Study to Assess the Knowledge on Worm

Infestation among Urban and Rural Mothers of School Going
Children (3-12 Yrs) at Karaikal District

Kalaivani E.1, G. Ambujam2

1
Assistant Professor, Vinayaka Mission’s College of Nursing, Karaikal, Puducherry (UT), 2Dean & Professor of
Surgery, Research Guide, Vinayaka Mission’s Medical College & Hospital, Karaikal, Puducherry (UT), Vinayaka
Mission’s Research Foundation (Deemed to be University), Salem

Abstract
Background: Helminthes infections are more prevalent among school children aged 5-14 years. Hookworm
burden is the major etiology for iron deficiency anemia in young children. One of the major health concerns
especially among children is anemia and malnutrition. This risk has further complicated by lack of awareness
on prevention of worm infestation among children and parents, care givers especially mothers. Increasing
children’s and their Parents awareness of the problem can help to fight the disease.

Objectives: To assess the knowledge on worm infestation among urban and rural mothers of School going
children.

Materials and Method: Non-experimental Comparative study was conducted to assess the knowledge
among mothers in urban and rural area at Karaikal. Sample size comprised of 150 mothers of school going
children were selected through non-probability or non-randomized convenience sampling. Out of 150
mothers 75 mothers from urban area and 75 mothers from rural area. The data was collected by using pretested
structured knowledge questionnaire. Data was analyzed by both descriptive and inferential statistics.

Results: This study revealed that in urban area the majority of the mothers of school going children 37%(28)
had adequate knowledge, 40%(30) had moderately adequate knowledge and 23%(17) had inadequate
knowledge regarding worm infestation. Also revealed that in rural area the majority of the mothers of school
going children 35%(26) had inadequate knowledge, 36%(27) had moderately adequate knowledge and
29%(22) had adequate knowledge regarding worm infestation. Mean and standard deviation (SD) of the
urban and rural area mothers of school going children respectively 16.8±4.77, 15.01±5.16.

Conclusion: The researcher concluded that the need for more research to improve not only the knowledge
also attitude and practices among mothers of school age children on worm infestations.

Keywords:  Knowledge, worm infestations, Urban, Rural, Mothers of school going children.

Introduction They are our future and are a supremely important asset
of the nation. They have to be protected and look after.
Children are nature’s gift and the fountain of life.
By promoting their health, we will be strengthening the
development of the family, Country, Nation and World.1

Corresponding Author: Child development and wellbeing is influenced by

Kalaivani E. many factors comprises the socio economic status of the
Assistant Professor, Vinayaka Mission’s College of family, educational level of the parents especially the
Nursing, Karaikal, Puducherry (UT) mother, availability of safe drinking water and sanitary
e-mail: [email protected] facilities and accessibility to health care services.
274  Medico-legal Update, October-December 2020, Vol. 20, No. 4
One of the silent and prevalent diseases in developing physiological and behavioral parameters along with
countries especially India is Worm infestation. It is more illiteracy and poor sanitation influence intestinal parasitic
prevalent among school children. It can cause nutritional infection. Awareness on infectious diseases, improving
impairment and poor development of children. hygiene and application of supportive programs for
Knowledge of the worm infestation can assist in early parents to elevate socioeconomic conditions may reduce
detection of the diseases and reduce the incidence of the burden of infection.
complications.2,3,4
Materials and Method
In world’s population 24% or more than 1.5 billion
people are infected with soil-transmitted helminth The research approach adopted for the present study
infections worldwide. Preschool-age children over 267 was Non Experimental Comparative research approach.
million and school-age children over 568 million live in Participants were selected by using non-probability or
areas where these parasites are intensively transmitted non randamozied convenience sampling technique.
and are in need of interventions. Global wise over The total number of mothers of school going children
600 million persons are estimated to be infected by included was 150(75 from urban and 75 from rural
S. stercoralis. Eggs that are attached to vegetables area). The study was conducted at Karaikal, Puducherry
are ingested when the vegetables are not carefully (U.T). The tools used for this study were demographic
cooked, peeled, washed in contaminated water and soil. proforma and structured knowledge questionnaire. The
Hookworm primarily can actively penetrate the skin when structured knowledge questionnaire consisted of 25 items
walking barefoot on the contaminated soil. Infestations comprised of general aspects of worm infestations, types
causes’ loss of appetite leads to less nutritional intake and mode of transmission, signs, symptoms, diagnosis,
affects the physical fitness,diarrhea,loss of iron,protein Treatment, prevention and complication of worm
and anemia. Health and hygiene education reduces infestations. The tool was pre-tested by administering
transmission and re-infection by encouraging healthy it to sixteen mothers of school going children (8 from
behavior and provision of adequate sanitation. Because urban and 8 from rural area). The Participants found
the main reason for infestations is poor personal and that the instructions and the language of the tool were
environmental sanitation. In 2018, over 676 million simple,clear and understandable and the time taken to
school-aged children were treated with anti helminthic complete the tool was 30 minutes. The reliability of
medicines in endemic countries, corresponding to 53% the tool was tested by split half method. A pilot study
of all children at risk.5 was conducted to find out the feasibility of the study.
Data analysis was done by using both descriptive and
In India, 225 million preschool(3-6yrs) and school- inferential statistics
age (6-12 yrs) children are estimated to be at risk of worm
infestations. India accounts for 65% of soil-transmitted Results
helminth (parasitic worms) cases at South East Asia The study Total participants consisted of
and 27% of cases world wide. In recent years, India has 150(75+75) mothers of school going children. Among
implemented national deworming programme, through 75 mothers from urban area about 45%(34)of mothers
which almost 250 million children are dewormed in of school going children belonged to the age group of
February and August (twice a year).6, 7 31-40 years and majority 40% (30)of mothers belonged
The prevalence of anemia among the entire study to Hindu. Maximum percentage 55% (41) of mothers
population (350 children) and in those infected with had completed her degree. Most of the mothers 45%
worms was 56.6% and 56.9% respectively. With (34) were home maker. Nearly 32% (24) of the mothers
polyparasitism there was a relative increase in the had family monthly income Rs. 10001 to 20,000. Most
frequency of anemia in females than males.8 of the mothers 36% (27)had information about worm
infestations from mass media.
Worm infections and anemia are common in our
children. Comprehensive control strategy involving good Among 75 mothers from rural area about 45% (34)
sanitation, supply of clean water and regular deworming of mothers of school going children belonged to the age
(six month once) are recommended to prevent or reduce group of 31-40 years and majority 48% (36)of mothers
the prevalance.6 Multiple socio-economical, cultural, belonged to Hindu. Maximum percentage 51% (38) of
 Medico-legal Update, October-December 2020, Vol. 20, No. 4  275
mothers had completed her degree. Most of the mothers Most of the mothers 48% (36) had information about
52% (39) were home maker. Nearly 39% (29) of the worm infestations from mass media.
mothers had family monthly income Rs. 5000 to 10,000.

Table 1. Frequency and Percentage distribution regarding knowledge on worm infestations among mothers
of school going children from urban and rural area

Mothers from Urban Mothers from Rural

Level of Knowledge
F % F %
Inadequate 17 23% 26 35%
Moderately Adequate 30 40% 27 36%
Adequate 28 37% 22 29%
Total 75 100% 75 100%

Table 2. Mean standard deviation regarding are significantly associated with parasitic infections.9
knowledge on worm infestations among mothers of Intervention measures are important to take up sustained
school going children from urban and rural area health education, provision of safe drinking water and
improvement in environmental sanitation. During the
Group Mean SD school health checkups, periodic screening for intestinal
Mothers from urban 16.8 ±4.77 parasites and blood indices can be evaluated.10
Mothers from rural 15.01 ±5.16
Present study revealed thatin urban area the majority
The chi-square values of demographic variables of the mothers of school going children 37% (28) had
such as age of the mother, religion, education, adequate knowledge,40% (30) had moderately adequate
occupation, monthly family income and source of knowledge and 23%(17)had inadequate knowledge
information, regarding worm infestation among mothers regarding worm infestation. Also revealed thatin
of school going children from urban area were not rural area the majority of the mothers of school going
significant at P≤0.05. Thus, it is concluded that there was children 35% (26) had inadequate knowledge,36% (27)
no association between knowledge score and selected had moderately adequate knowledge and 29%(22)had
demographic variable adequate knowledge regarding worm infestation.

The chi-square values of demographic variables Sadhna Shinde et al conducted a community based,
such as age of the mother, occupation, regarding worm cross-sectional survey of 100 mothers to assessing the
infestation among mothers of school going children from knowledge regarding worm infestations in selected
rural area were significant at P≤0.05. Mean while there slums in pune and revealed that 75% of the mothers
was no association with demographic variables such as were having average knowledge, 22% of mothers had
religion, education, monthly family income and source poor knowledge & only 3% of mothers were having
of information at P≤0.05 good knowledge regarding worm infestation.11

Another one study conducted by Suganya et al to

Discussion
evaluated the Knowledge regarding prevention of worm
The high prevalence of parasitic infestation infestations among mothers of under five children. The
seems directly related to the unhygienic living result showed that among 60 samples 60(98.4%) of
conditions associated with lack of knowledge about mothers have inadequate knowledge and 1(1.6%) of
the communicable disease and variety of allied factors, mothers have adequate knowledge regarding prevention
which need to be studied. Socioeconomic status and of worm infestation.12
occupation of parents, the age of children and ethnicity
276  Medico-legal Update, October-December 2020, Vol. 20, No. 4
One more study was conducted by Madan Mohan implementing interventional programs among parents
Gupta et al to assess the knowledge regarding worm and caregivers particularly among the rural population
infestation among mothers of pre-school children. The would be vital. So that the prevalence of the worm
study result showed that, 48 (48%) mothers of pre-school infestations can be prevented or minimized19, 20, 21
children had moderately adequate knowledge, 42 (42%)
had inadequate knowledge and 10 (10%) had adequate Conclusion
knowledge regarding worm infestation.13 The present study concluded that most of the
Descriptive study had been conducted by Sharma urban and rural mothers had moderately adequate and
Ankit et al on Awareness of Worm Infestation among inadequate knowledge on worm infestations. Hence the
Mothers and its Prevalence in their Preschool Children. knowledge, attitude and practice of the mothers can be
The study results showed that 55% mothers of preschool enhanced through mass health education program on
children had average knowledge regarding worm prevention of worm infestation which in turn promotes
infestation followed by 24% had good and 21% mothers the growth and development of the school going children.
had poor knowledge.14 Source of Funding: Self
Another one study conducted by M. Hemamalini Conflict of Interest: There is no conflict of interest
et al regarding Knowledge on Worm Infestation among
Mothers with Under Five Children 50 mothers, 18 (36%) Ethical Clearance: Informed consent was taken
mothers have in adequate knowledge; 20 (40%) mothers from the participants prior to the study.
have moderately adequate knowledge and 12 (24%)
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