AN EXPLORATORY STUDY TO ASSESS THE PREVALANCE AND CAUSATIVE FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH WORM INFESTATION AMONG PRESCHOOL CHILDREN (3-5 YEAR) IN SELECTED RURAL AREA OF JABALPUR, WITH A VIEW TO PROVIDE MASS HEALTH EDUCATION.

Abstract

Worm infestations are amongst the most common infections worldwide.. These infections are regarded as serious public health problem, as they cause iron deficiency anemia, growth retardation in children and other physical and mental health problems.

OBJECTIVES: Assess the prevalence and causative factors of worm infestation among preschool children (3-5year) in selected rural area of Jabalpur.

METHODS: Quantitative research approach (Descriptive Exploratory research design) is used to conduct the present study. Convenient sampling technique is used to select the sample size of 100 preschool children.

RESULT: 25% of preschool children are suffering from worm infestation. The mean score of causative factors of worm infestation is- Causative factor 1- Feces mean value is 2.92 with standard deviation 0.90. Causative factor 2- Food mean value is 3.28 with standard deviation 1.38. Causative factor 3-Flies mean value is 2.54 with standard deviation 1.4. Causative factor 4-Fomites mean value is 1.6with standard deviation 0.99. Causative factor 5-Fingers mean value is 4.51with standard deviation 1.89. Out of 25 positive samples the finger causative factor score highest (80%). There is significance variance between causative factors of worm infestation, between group df is 4 and within group 120,and the P value = 0.05 level = 3.92 and 0.01 level = 6.84 which is most significant and  F – Ration = 23.61.

CONCLUSION: Out of 100 samples 25 samples are worm infestation positive. It indicates that the wellness level of preschool children is not good and the researcher found that there is significant association between causative factors of worm infestation and demographic variables. It also shows that poor as well as average hygienic condition can cause the worm infestation among preschool children & mainly the finger causative factor is most responsible for worm infestation.