To Evaluate the Effectiveness of Learning Package on Knowledge and Practice in Care of Preterm Babies among Postnatal Mothers in selected Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Coimbatore

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM: To evaluate the effectiveness of learning package on knowledge and practice in care of preterm babies among postnatal mothers in selected Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Coimbatore. OBJECTIVES: 1. To assess the existing level of knowledge on care of their preterm babies among postnatal mothers. 2. To assess the existing level of practice on care of their preterm babies among postnatal mothers. 3. To evaluate the effectiveness of learning package in improving the knowledge on care of their preterm among postnatal mothers. 4. To evaluate the effectiveness of learning package in improving the practice on care of their preterm among postnatal mothers. 5. To find out the association between pretest knowledge level with their selected demographic variables of postnatal mothers. 6. To find out the association between pretest practice level with their selected demographic variables of postnatal mothers. HYPOTHESIS: H1 - There will be a significant difference between pretest and post test knowledge score on care of their preterm babies. H2 - The mean post test practice score will be significantly higher than the mean pretest practice score. H3 - There will be a significant association between the pre test scores of knowledge and selected demographic variables. H4 - There will be a significant association between the pre test scores of practice and selected demographic variables. METHODOLOGY: One group pretest and posttest Pre-experimental design was used. 30 samples were selected using non-probability convenient sampling. A self administered questionnaire and observational check list was used to evaluate the knowledge and practice. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: The study findings revealed that the learning package was effective on knowledge and practice of postnatal mothers on care of their premature babies. • In the pretest, among 30 postnatal mothers regarding level of knowledge 16 (53.7%) had inadequate knowledge, 10 (33.3%) had moderate knowledge and 4 (13.3%) had adequate knowledge in pretest. The level of knowledge was improved after intervention, in the post test 0 (0%) had inadequate knowledge and 22 (73.3%) had moderate knowledge and 8 (26.7%) had adequate knowledge. • In the pretest, among 30 postnatal mothers in terms of level of practice 14 (46.7%) had inadequate practice, 11 (36.7%) had moderate practice and 5 (16.6%) had adequate practice in pre test. The level of practice was improved after intervention, in the posttest 0 (0%) had inadequate practice and 10 (33.3%) had moderate practice and 20 (66.7%) had adequate practice. • Among 30 postnatal mothers on care of their preterm babies, the pre test mean knowledge score was 12.6 and the post test mean was 18.1. The mean difference 5.5 was a true difference. The standard deviation of pre test was 4.6 and post test was 3.6. The calculated paired ‘t’ value 9.3 was highly significant the table value (2.6) at 0.05 level. Hence the hypothesis was accepted. It was inferred that learning packages was effective in improving the knowledge of the post natal mothers. • Among 30 postnatal mothers on care of their preterm babies, the pre test mean practice score was 17.5 and the post test mean was 30.2. The mean difference 12.7 was a true difference. The standard deviation of pretest was 10.10 and post test was 7.62. The calculated paired ‘t’ value 11.6 was highly significant the table value (2.6) at 0.05 level. Hence the hypothesis was accepted. It was inferred that learning packages was effective in improving the practice of the post natal mothers. • The study reveals that there was no significant association between the pre test level of knowledge score with their selected demographic variables such as age of the mother, educational status of the mother, maternal illness during antenatal period, gestational age and birth weight. • The study reveals that there was no significant association between the pre test level of practice score with their selected demographic variables such as age of the mother, educational status of the mother, maternal illness during antenatal period, gestational age and birth weight