Effectiveness Of Structured Teaching Programme (Stp) On Knowledge Regarding Health Consequences Of Late Marriage And Its Effects On Pregnancy Among Female Students In Selected Colleges, Bangalore

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE STUDY:

Late marriage naturally result in late pregnancy, it is defined as pregnancy above 35 year of age. It results in complications which affect health of mother as well as babies such as difficult for conceiving after age of 35, pre-eclampsia, risk for miscarriages, the chances of fetus having genetic defect and still births. So women should be aware about ideal time of marriage and pregnancy. OBJECTIVES: (1) assess the existing level of knowledge regarding health consequences of late marriage and its effects on pregnancy among female students. (2) evaluate the effectiveness of Structured Teaching Programme regarding health consequences of late marriage and its effects on pregnancy by comparing mean pre-test and post-test knowledge scores. (3). Determine the association between the mean pre-test knowledge scores of female students regarding health consequences of late marriage and its effects on pregnancy with their selected socio- demographic variables. DESIGN: A quantitative, pre experimental, one group pretest posttest design was selected for the study. SUBJECTS: The participants were 60 female students from Lowry Memorial College, Bangalore. METHOD: A non-probability purposive sampling technique was used to select the samples for the study. DATA COLLECTION TOOL: A structured knowledge questionnaire was used to collect data from the participants. DATA ANALYSIS: The data obtained will be analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics on the basis of objective and hypothesis of the study. RESULTS: It was observed that majority of the subjects 63.3% (38 out of 60) had inadequate knowledge in the pre- test and the remaining 37.6% (22 out of 60) had only moderately adequate knowledge and none of them had adequate knowledge in the pretest.

It was observed that least of the respondents 2% (1 out of 60) had inadequate knowledge. Majority of the respondents gained adequate knowledge 67% (40 out of 60), followed by moderately adequate knowledge 31% (19 out of 60) in the post test. This shows the effectiveness of the STP among the female students. An association was sought between the mean pretest knowledge and their selected socio demographic variables such as age (χ2 =8.210) showed a significant association with their mean pre-test knowledge scores at 0.05 levels of significance.

CONCLUSION: There is a significant difference between mean pre- test and post- test knowledge level of female students regarding health consequences of late marriage and its effects on pregnancy.