A Descriptive Study to Assess the Knowledge and Preventive Measures Adopted by Parents for Their Asthmatic Children Residing in Selected Areas of Dera Bassi, District Mohali, Punjab

Abstract

The research project was undertaken by Nidhi Gupta in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of Master of Science in Nursing of Baba Farid University of Health Sciences, Faridkot, Punjab, 2016.
The objective of present study was to assess the knowledge of parents of the asthmatic children. To assess the preventive measures adopted by Parents for their asthmatic children. To find the association between knowledge and preventive measures adopted by Parents for their asthmatic children with their selected Demographic variables.
The conceptual framework used for the present study was based on “Rosenstock, stretcher and Becker’s revised health belief Model (1988). The structured knowledge questionnaire to assess the knowledge and check list to assess preventive measures adopted by parents for their asthmatic children was used for data collection. Content validity of the tool was determined by experts’ opinion and suggestion on relevance of items. The pilot study was being carried out on 10 subjects to ensure the reliability of tool and feasibility of the study.
The actual data collection was carried out in the month of March 2016. Convenience sampling technique was used to select 100 subjects from Gulmoher city, Gulmoher city extension, Adarsh colony, village Issapur, village Dera Jagadhari and village Mubarakpur of Dera Bassi, District Mohali, Punjab.
Sample was explained about the purpose and methods used in the study. Written consent was taken from them.
The gathered data were analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistic in term of calculating frequency and percentage. Chi square test was used to find the association between knowledge and preventive measures adopted by parents for their asthmatic children with selected demographic variables.
The study revealed that majority of the respondents (82%) were mothers. Slightly more than half (54%) of parents belonged to age group 30–40. (41%) were graduate and above. As per occupation almost half (45%) were home maker. More than half (52%) parents belong to Sikh religion. Majority (62%) of parents of asthmatic children belonged to nuclear family. More than half (52%) were residing in urban area. Most of (56%) of family income was between Rs.1000–15000. Majority of (92%) families were having 1–3 children in family. Majority (86%) of families were not having any family history of asthma and. Majority (97%) of parents were having 1 child with asthma. Near about half (48%) of asthmatic children were between 0 and 6 years of age group. Most of (83%) of asthmatic children since diagnosed to have asthma since 0–6 years. All most all (98%) of parents of asthmatic children were seeking treatment for their children. Near about half (49%) of parents of asthmatic children visited to hospital only when symptoms worsened. More than half (60%) of parents gained information from health care personal about asthma. Major finding of the study revealed that slightly more than half of parents of asthmatic children had (52%) average and rest (48%) had good knowledge regarding asthma. Study also revealed that practice of parents regarding preventive measures was inadequate i.e. half (50%) of parents of asthmatic children were using poor preventive measures, 30% of parents of asthmatic children were using fair preventive measures and only 20% of parents were using good preventive measures for their children to prevent asthmatic attacks. knowledge of parents regarding asthma is significantly associated with certain demographic variables (p=0.05) as more mother had good knowledge, more subjects residing in urban Ares, with family history of asthma had good knowledge and asthmatic child is 0–6 year have good knowledge. preventive measures adopted by parents’ regarding asthma was significantly associated with certain demographic variables (p=0.05) as respondents’ age and religion.