Study to Assess the Effectiveness of Information Booklet on Knowledge and Attitude Regarding Ill Effects of Consanguineous Marriage Among Students at a Selected Higher Secondary School, Ratnagiri District

Abstract

Background and objectives: The adolescent contribute total 30% of the population and they need information regarding ill effects of consanguineous marriage which helps them in selecting their life partner in a healthier way and indirectly prevents the birth of defected/diseased children to certain extent. This enhances the health of the family/community as well as the nation. Objectives: (1) To assess the existing knowledge of HSC students regarding ill effects of consanguineous marriage. (2) To assess the attitude of HSC students towards consanguineous marriage. (3) To evaluate the effectiveness of Information Booklet on knowledge and attitude regarding ill effects of consanguineous marriage. (4) To find the correlation between knowledge and attitude regarding ill effects of consanguineous marriage. (5) To find association between posttest knowledge and attitude scores with selected demographic variables on ill effects of consanguineous marriage. Methods: The study involved one group pre-test and posttest without control group using pre-experimental design, with nonprobability sampling technique in which convenient sampling method was used. Information was collected from 50 HSC students regarding ill effects of consanguineous marriage by using the structured knowledge questionnaire and Likert’s five point attitude scale. The results were described by using descriptive and inferential statistics. Demographic data consisting 15 items, structured knowledge questionnaire consisting 30 items, III-Likert’s five point attitude scale consisting 16 items. The reliability of tool was established by using split half technique and the value found was 0.96. Results: Regarding demographic variables, majority were found in the age group of 15–16 years, gender wise students distributed equally, majority were of Hindu religion, majority were from nuclear family, majority’s father’s education was high school, majority’s mothers were of no formal education, majority’s father’s occupation was self-employed/business, majority’s mothers were house wife, majority’s family’s income was in the range of 5000–10000, majority did not come across any ill effects of consanguinity, majority’s source of information regarding ill effects of consanguinity was from mass media. The study findings revealed that the overall pre-test knowledge score was 28.20% and the post-test knowledge scores 70.00%. The mean enhancement of knowledge score was found to be 37.8%. The statistical results established highly significant at P<0.001 at 5% level indicating the effectiveness of Information Booklet in enhancing the knowledge of students. The study findings revealed that the overall pre-test mean attitude percentage was found to be 61.70%. When it is categorized the students according to the level of attitude, majority 92% of student’s attitude was unfavorable, followed by 08% student’s attitude favorable. The study findings revealed that the overall pretest mean knowledge score was 68% and the attitude score 68.88%. The correlation coefficient (r) was 0.589 and significant at 0.01 level. The association between posttest knowledge scores and demographic variables such as age, gender, father’s education, mother’s education, father’s occupation, mother’s occupation, monthly family’s income, whether came across demerits of consanguinity, source of information and status of parent’s blood relationship found not significant at (P>0.05). Conclusion: The study concludes that Information Booklet had provided knowledge to HSC students regarding ill effects of consanguineous marriage.