A quasi-experimental study to assess the effectiveness of “child to parent” health education strategy for prevention of type 2 diabetes mellitus among rural population of South India
1
Community Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Vijaypur, Jammu, Vijaypur, India
2
Community Medicine, Datta Meghe Medical College, Nagpur, Nagpur, India
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
In India, type-2 diabetes mellitus is seen more commonly among the younger population, at least a decade earlier in comparison to developed countries. School-going children are important population group for primordial prevention activities and as health messengers for imparting knowledge to their family members as part of “child to parent” strategy, thus promoting health status of their family and community.
METHODS:
Quasi-experimental study with pre and post-test design was conducted for nine months duration in rural areas of Chengalpet district, Tamil Nadu, India among high-school going children. A pretested semi-structured schedule was used as data collection instrument after linguistic validation and pilot testing. Baseline survey was conducted followed by Intervention of Health education module comprising two sessions of one-hour duration each over a span of one week (short film, interactive lectures and role-play) printed IEC material was provided. In the control arm, routine school health services were provided as per the ongoing program. Evaluation: Assessment of knowledge was conducted post-intervention using the same assessment tool at intervals of one and three months in both groups simultaneously. Assent from child and informed consent from parents and Institutional human ethics committee approval was obtained prior to study.
RESULTS:
A total of 190 school children and their parent participated in study with similar mean age scores in both groups. Statistically significant difference was found between knowledge scores across various domains of Type 2-DM post intervention in intervention group compared to control group for both children and parents on application of Mann Whitney U test (p<0.05).
CONCLUSIONS:
Study emphasized effectiveness of child-to-parent health education strategy for primordial and primary prevention of Type 2-DM. If found effective in large scale studies, such model can be integrated as a part of health promoting school’s curriculum to tackle the rising trend of non-communicable diseases across India.
In India, type-2 diabetes mellitus is seen more commonly among the younger population, at least a decade earlier in comparison to developed countries. School-going children are important population group for primordial prevention activities and as health messengers for imparting knowledge to their family members as part of “child to parent” strategy, thus promoting health status of their family and community.
METHODS:
Quasi-experimental study with pre and post-test design was conducted for nine months duration in rural areas of Chengalpet district, Tamil Nadu, India among high-school going children. A pretested semi-structured schedule was used as data collection instrument after linguistic validation and pilot testing. Baseline survey was conducted followed by Intervention of Health education module comprising two sessions of one-hour duration each over a span of one week (short film, interactive lectures and role-play) printed IEC material was provided. In the control arm, routine school health services were provided as per the ongoing program. Evaluation: Assessment of knowledge was conducted post-intervention using the same assessment tool at intervals of one and three months in both groups simultaneously. Assent from child and informed consent from parents and Institutional human ethics committee approval was obtained prior to study.
RESULTS:
A total of 190 school children and their parent participated in study with similar mean age scores in both groups. Statistically significant difference was found between knowledge scores across various domains of Type 2-DM post intervention in intervention group compared to control group for both children and parents on application of Mann Whitney U test (p<0.05).
CONCLUSIONS:
Study emphasized effectiveness of child-to-parent health education strategy for primordial and primary prevention of Type 2-DM. If found effective in large scale studies, such model can be integrated as a part of health promoting school’s curriculum to tackle the rising trend of non-communicable diseases across India.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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