A Study to Assess the Effect of Health Teaching on Knowledge and Practices of Infant’s Mothers Regarding Complementary Feeding in Selected Slums

Abstract

A study was conducted to assess the effect of health teaching on knowledge & practices of mothers of infants regarding complementary feeding in selected slums. The research approach used was evaluative approach, design used was pre- experimental one group pretest posttest design and non-probability purposive sampling technique was used for sample selection. The samples were selected from the selected slums of PCMC. The samples consisted of 60 mothers of infants who fulfilled criteria set by the investigator. A structured interview schedule questionnaire and an observation check list was prepared to assess knowledge and practices of samples regarding complementary feeding. Result relevant that Paired t-test was used to test the effectiveness of health teaching on knowledge and practices regarding complementary feeding. Average pretest knowledge score was 6.6 which increased to 14.4 in posttest. T-value for this comparison was 19.4 with 59 degrees of freedom. Corresponding p-value was 0.000 which is small (less than 0.05), the null hypothesis is rejected. Average pretest practice score was 12.3 which increased to 28.4 in posttest. T-value for this comparison was 49.5 with 59 degrees of freedom. Corresponding p-value was 0.000 which is small (less than 0.05), the null hypothesis is rejected. This indicates that the knowledge and practices of mothers of infants regarding complementary feeding significantly improved after health teaching.