Title: Comparative study of mothers' knowledge of children immunization before and after mass media.

POPLINE Document Number: 077594

Author(s):

el-Shazly MK
Farghaly NF
Abou Khatwa SA
Ibrahim AG

Source citation:

JOURNAL OF THE EGYPTIAN PUBLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION, 1991;66(5-6):609-24.

Abstract:

The effect of health education messages in mass media on the knowledge and practice of mothers regarding compulsory vaccination was assessed during the 1st half of 1991. 250 mothers attending MCH centers for vaccinating their children during 1983 comprised Group I those not exposed to mass media. 150 mothers attending MCH centers for vaccinating their children during 1991 made up Group II those exposed to mass media. Group III consisted of 100 primigravidae attending the same MCH centers for antenatal care in 1991 who were exposed to mass media. Questions were administered on education of mothers, sources of information about the compulsory schedule, seriousness of the disease, vulnerability of children to the immunizable conditions, names of the vaccines, timing of vaccination, and the effectiveness of vaccines. In scoring knowledge levels scores of 50%, 75%, and 100% were taken as the upper limits of unsatisfactory, satisfactory, and very good knowledge, respectively. The mean scores of knowledge were: 43.6% + 16.0, 65.7% _ 12.8, and 57.0% + 16.1 for groups I, II and III, respectively. Mass media changed its rank from last in group I (2.8%) to 1st in group II (74.0%), and vice versa, as regards health workers (86.0%) and 12.0% in group I and II, respectively). Family members and neighbors improved slightly: 11.2% and 14.0% in groups I and II, respectively. The mean score of knowledge increased with higher levels of education in group I, II, and III. The group with unsatisfactory knowledge had the highest percentage of completion of immunization schedule in both groups I and II (62.9% and 100.0%, respectively). Mothers with satisfactory knowledge among those completing the schedule were significantly higher in Group II (87.9%) than in Group I (46.2%). 73.5% of mothers in Group II had very good knowledge and completed the schedule compared to 60% in Group I.

Keywords:

Egypt
Mothers
Immunization
Vaccination
Knowledge
Mass Media
Scoring Methods
Child
Health Education
Africa, Northern
Africa
Developing Countries
Parents
Family Relationships
Family Characteristics
Family and Household
Primary Health Care
Health Services
Delivery of Health Care
Health
Communication
Survey Methodology
Surveys
Sampling Studies
Studies
Research Methodology
Youth
Age Factors
Population Characteristics
Demographic Factors
Population
Education