EFFECTIVENESS OF A STRUCTURED TEACHING PROGRAMME ON THE PREVENTION OF COMMON CHILDHOOD ACCIDENTS AMONG MOTHERS OF UNDER-FIVE CHILDREN, NAYAGARH, ODISHA, INDIA

Abstract

Background: Childhood accidents are a major public health concern, particularly among children under five years of age, who are vulnerable to unintentional injuries because of their developmental characteristics and limited ability to recognise hazards. Maternal knowledge plays an important role in identifying risks and adopting preventive measures. Objective: To assess the effectiveness of a structured teaching programme (STP) on the prevention of common childhood accidents among mothers of under-five children in Benta, Nayagarh, Odisha, India. Materials and Methods: A quantitative evaluative approach was adopted using a pre-experimental, one-group pre-test post-test design. Thirty mothers of children under five years of age were selected through non-probability purposive sampling. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire comprising 30 multiple-choice questions. The structured teaching programme covered the types and causes of childhood accidents, management, first-aid responses, and preventive safety measures. A post-test was conducted seven days after the intervention. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and a paired-samples t-test. Results: In the pre-test, all participants (100%) demonstrated poor knowledge, with a mean score of 6.26 out of 30. Following the intervention, 23 participants (76.7%) achieved excellent knowledge, while seven (23.3%) demonstrated average knowledge. The post-test mean score increased to approximately 22.43 out of 30, representing a mean improvement of 16.17 points. The reported paired t-value was 33.68 (df = 29; p < 0.05), indicating a statistically significant improvement, subject to verification of the original statistical calculations. Conclusion: The structured teaching programme was associated with improved maternal knowledge regarding childhood accident prevention. Community-based educational interventions may support child-safety awareness; however, larger controlled studies with follow-up assessments are needed to establish sustained behavioural changes and effects on childhood injury outcomes.