International Journal of Information Research and Review, May, 2016

International Journal of Information Research and Review

Vol. 03, Issue, 05, pp. 2307-2309, May, 2016

Research Article
A STUDY TO ASSESS THE KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND COMPETENCY OF NURSES
REGARDING ASSESSMENT AND TREATMENT OF UNDER FIVE CHILDREN BASED ON
IMNCI GUIDELINES AT SELECTED PRIMARY HEALTH CENTRES AT PUDUCHERRY
1Dr. Danasu, R., 2Hema Ananadhy, K. and *3Kumudhavalli, D.
1Principal, Sri Manakula Vinayagar Nursing College, Puducherry, India
2Lecturer, Department of Community Health Nursing, SMVNC, Puducherry, India
3II Yr., M.Sc., Department of Community Health Nursing, SMVNC, Puducherry, India

ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT

Article History: Children are our future and our most precious resources. Today’s children are the citizen’s of
tomorrow’s world. The Integrated Management of Neonatal and Childhood Illness (IMNCI) focuses
Received 17th February 2016 on strengthening home based care and provides special care for malnourished underfive children. A
Received in revised form Descriptive research design and quantitative research approach was adopted. 50 nurses in Primary
24th March 2016
Health Centres at puducherry were selected for the study by using purposive sampling technique and
Accepted 19th April 2016
Published online 30th May 2016 the study done at selected PHC at puducherry. By using knowledge questionnaires, attitude and
competency checklists questionnaires. The study reveals that out of 100% of nurses 62% has adequate
knowledge, 32% had moderate knowledge and 6% had inadequate knowledge. In attitude 76% has
Keywords: Good attitude, 24% had poor attitude and none of them had very poor attitude. In competency 64%
IMNCI, has adequate practice, 36% had moderate practice and none of them had inadequate practice. The
Primary Health Centre. nurses have adequate knowledge, and good attitude and competency of IMNCI. Thus most of the
nurse have adequate knowledge, attitude and competency of nurses in assessment and treatment of
under five children based on IMNCI guidelines

Copyright © 2016, Dr. Danasu et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use,
distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

INTRODUCTION STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Children are our future and our most precious resources. A study to assess the knowledge, attitude and competency of
Today’s children are the citizen’s of tomorrow’s world. In other nurses regarding assessment and treatment of under five
words, the children are the budding human resources and the children based on IMNCI guidelines at selected Primary Health
future citizens of the nation. Healthy children are not only Centres at puducherry.
assets but also the stepping stone to build a strong and
prosperous nation. Their survival and protection is prerequisite OBJECTIVES
for the future development of humanity. Every child represents
the unit of human capital. He/she has the potential to grow into  To assess the level of knowledge regarding assessment and
a productive adult and contribute to the economic and social treatment of under five children based on IMNCI guidelines
development of the country. The Integrated Management of among nurses
Neonatal and Childhood Illness (IMNCI) focuses on  To assess the attitude regarding assessment and treatment of
strengthening home based care and provides special care for under five children based on IMNCI guidelines among
malnourished newborns. During home visits by health workers nurses
the mother is taught how to recognize diseases early and when  To assess the competency regarding assessment and
to seek medical help. She is also educated on the benefits of treatment of under five children based on IMNCI guidelines
exclusive breastfeeding. among nurses
*Corresponding author: Ms. Kumudhavalli, D.  To association between knowledge, attitude and
II Yr., M.Sc., Department of Community Health Nursing, SMVNC, competency regarding assessment and treatment of under
Puducherry, India.
 2308 Dr. Danasu et al. A study to assess the knowledge, attitude and competency of nurses regarding assessment and treatment
of under five children based on imnci guidelines at selected primary health centres at Puducherry

five children based on IMNCI guidelines with selected Table 2. Distribution of samples according to the of level of
demographic variables knowledge on assessment and treatment of under five children
based on IMNCI guidelines among nurses in primary health
centres
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Knowledge level Number of sample Percentage
The present studyassess the knowledge, attitude and Inadequate 3 6%
competency of nurses regarding assessment and treatment of Moderate 16 32%
under five children based on IMNCI guidelines among nurses. Adequate 31 62%
The descriptive design was selected for the study 50 staff
nurses selected for the study Purposive sampling technique is
used. The data is collected by knowledge questionnaire, attitude
questionnaire and competency checklist. This knowledge
questionnaire contains 30 questions; attitude questionnaire
consists of 15 questions and compentecy checklist consists of
30 questions about assessment and treatment of under five
children based on IMNCI guidelines.

Table 1. frequency and percentage Distribution of selected

demographic variables of nurses in Primary Health Centres

Demographic variables Frequency Percentage

Table 2. The findings reveals out of 100% of nurses 62% has
1) Age adequate knowledge, 32% had moderate knowledge and 6% had
A)21-25 years 0 0
inadequate knowledge
B)26-30 years 7 14%
C)31-35 years 23 46%
D)above 35 years 30 60% Table 3. Distribution of samples according to the level of attitude
2) Sex on assessment and treatment of under five children based on
A)male 3 6%% IMNCI guidelines among nurses in primary health centres
B)female 47 94%
3) Monthly income
A) 15,000-20,000 15 30% Level of attitude Number of sample Percentage
B)20,000-25,000 9 18% Very poor 0 0%
C)25,000-30,000 15 30% Poor 12 24%
D)30,000 11 22% Good 38 76%
4)Educational qualification:
A)B.Sc,Nursing 24 48%
Table 3. The findings reveals out of 100% of nurses 76% has
B)GNM 0 0%
C)ANM 26 52% Good attitude, 24% had poor attitude and 0% had very poor
5) Years of experience attitude
A)<5 years 0 0%
B)5-10 years 13 26%
C)10-15 years 18 36%
D)above 15 years 9 18%
6) Religion
A)hindu 37 74%
B)muslim 0 0%
C)Christian 13 26%
7) Marital status
A) married 50 100%
B) unmarried 0 0%
C)single(divorced/widow) 0 0%
8)Attended any IMNCI training
programme
A)yes 45 90%
B)no 5 10%

Table 4. Distribution of samples according to the level of

Description of data collection instruments competency on assessment and treatment of under five children
based on IMNCI guidelines for among nurses in primary health
Section I - Demographic Data which comprises of variables centres
like age, sex, educational qualification, year of experience,
monthly income, religion, marital status, IMNCI training Competency level Number of sample Percentage
programme. Very poor 0 0%
Section II - knowledge questionnaire is in multiple choice Poor 16 36%
questions based on IMNCI guidelines assessment and treatment Good 31 64%
of under five children was used to assess the knowledge among
nurses in selected Primary Health Centres. Section IV - competency checklist assessment and treatment of
Section III – Attitude questionnaire assessment and treatment under five children based on IMNCI guidelines was used to
of under five children based on IMNCI guidelines was used to assess the competency among nurses in selected Primary
assess the Attitude among nurses in selected Primary Health Health Centres.
Centres.
2309 International Journal of Information Research and Review Vol. 03, Issue, 05, pp. 2307-2309, May, 2016

Cynthia Boschi-Pinto, Lana Velebit & Kenji Shibuya,

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