A Comparative Study to Assess the Knowledge of Mothers of Under-Five Children Regarding Importance of Play in Growth and Development in Selected Rural and Urban Areas, Bangalore

Play is a universal language of children. It is one of the most important forms of communication and can be an effective technique in relating to them. Parents are child's first and best play mates. The most creative children are those who have had parents involved in their play. This study was conducted to assess and compare the knowledge of mothers of under-five children regarding importance of play in growth and development.

Objectives:

1.To assess the knowledge of rural and urban mothers regarding the importance of play in growth and development of their children.

2.To compare the knowledge of rural and urban mothers of under-five children regarding importance of play in growth and development.

3.To find out the association between the knowledge of rural and urban mothers regarding the importance of growth and development of their children with selected demographic variables.

Methods: A comparative survey design was adopted for the study. Samples were selected using non probability convenient sampling technique; samples consist of 80 mothers of under-five children, out of which 40 from rural and 40 from urban areas of from Bommasandra and Masthenahalli rural areas under Chandapura primary health centre and Hongasandra and Begur urban areas under Begur primary health centre, Bangalore. Data from the study participants was collected by structured knowledge questionnaire on importance of play in growth and development. Data collected was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics.

Results: Findings of the study revealed that majority 55% of the rural mothers and 30% of the urban mothers had moderate knowledge while 62.5% of urban mothers and 30% of the rural mothers had adequate knowledge regarding the importance of play in growth and development of under-five children. The total difference in the mean of overall knowledge score was 3.32 with the 't' value of 3.341 and found to be significant at the level of p<0.01. Hence it indicated that there was a significant difference in the knowledge level of rural and urban mothers. Study also reveals that there was a statistically significant association between the knowledge score of the rural and urban mothers with demographic variables such as age, education, occupation, family income, number of children and religion at the probability level of p<0.05 and P<0.01.

Conclusion: From the study findings, it is understood that the The samples had moderate knowledge regarding the importance of play in growth and development of children. The knowledge level of the mother's increases with the age, educational status, family income and number of children they have. Hence the study emphasizes more responsibility on health care professionals, especially nurses in empowering the mothers of under-five children regarding the importance of play in growth and development.