A comparative study to assess the knowledge regarding worm infestation in children among urban and rural mothers attending opd in guru teg bahadur sahib (c) hospital, ludhiana, Punjab

Background: Worm infestation is the infection of intestinal tract with any of several species of helminthes or parasitic worms, including Ascaris (Round worm), Entrobius (Pin worm), Trichinella spiralis and various species of Cestodes (Tape worm). (Kumari 2006) The World Health Organization estimates that over one billion of the world’s population is chronically infested with soil transmitted helminthes. (Panwanda Geeta 2011) Worm infestation remains one of the main problems of child development. This is especially a great health hazard in developing countries. Impure water, low socio-economic state, poor sanitation coupled with low literacy rates of parents particularly the mothers are the main causes of this prevalent malady (Gupta 2009). Aim: The Aim of the study is to compare knowledge of urban and rural mothers regarding worm infestation in children, with a view to enhance their knowledge on prevention and management of worm infestation, by distributing pamphlets. Material and Methods: A Quantitative Research approach and Non Experimental Comparative research design was used to assess the knowledge regarding worm infestation in children among urban and rural mothers attending OPD in Guru Teg Bahadur Sahib (C) Hospital, Ludhiana, Punjab. Using convenient sampling technique a sample of 100 mothers including 50 residing in urban area and 50 residing in rural area and having children in the age group of 0 -10 years were selected. Data was collected using self structured questionnaire and results were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: The findings of the present study revealed that mean knowledge score of urban mothers was higher (18.86) as compared to rural mothers (16.96) regarding worm infestation in children. The difference between mean knowledge score was found to be statistically non-significant. Conclusion: It was found that there was no impact of demographic variables on knowledge score of urban and rural mothers.