A Study to Assess Knowledge and Attitude Regarding Selected First Aid Measures among Anganwadi Teachers In Selected Rural Community of Bangalore

Abstract

Background: Long ago, Henry Sigerist, the medical historian stated that “the people's health ought to be the concern of the people themselves. They must struggle for it and plan for it. The war against disease and for health cannot be fought by physicians alone. It is a people's war in which the entire population must be mobilized permanently1”.The main objective of providing first aid is to reduce suffering, promote healing process and prevent damage. 2 Often, the knowledge regarding first aid reported is poor and disintegrated.3 Incorrect practices and myths associated with illnesses and injuries have also been reported among people living in community.4
Objectives: 1. To determine the existing knowledge of Anganwadi teacherstowards first aid measures. 2. To determine the attitude of Anganwadi teachers towards first aid measures.3. To determine the association between knowledge with the selected demographic variable
Methods: Quantitative, Descriptive study was conducted in anekal rural at Bangalore. The convenient sampling was used for the study. The knowledge questionnaire and attitude scale were distributed among 90 anganwadi teachers. The data were analyzed by using descriptive, inferential statistical methods.
Results:Demographic description of samples by frequency and percentage shows that majority of the samples (47)52.2% belong to the age group of above 36 years, (45)50% of the samples were scondary education & (57) 63.3 % of the samples were above 7 years of experience and (36)40 % of anganwadi has above 30 children’s in the centre and (80)g88.9 % were not had information about first aid measures.Distribution of knowledge scores regarding first aid measures showthat (15)16.6% of nurses had poor knowledge , whereas (75) 83.3 % of anganwadi teachers had average knowledge.Attitude scores show that (9)10% of anganwadi teachers had unfavourableattitude and (81)90% of anganwadi teachers hadfavourable attitude regarding first aid measures. There was significant association between knowledge and age at p < 0.05.
Conclusion: The findings of the study indicated that majority anganwadi workers are having inadequate knowledge on first aid measures. Since most of the under five children go to Anganwadi every day and accidents rate are more in under five children such as burns, drowning, road traffic accidents, poisoning so  it is the responsibility of the Anganwadi worker to aware about first aid measures. There is a need  for the heal personnel to take active part in organizing a proper and regular educational programme about first aid measures, to make awareness in the community and health workers who involved in community service.