A study to assess the effectiveness of structured teaching program on knowledge regarding filariasis among adults in selected villages of Dakshina Kannada district

Background: Lymphatic fi lariasis, commonly known as elephantiasis is the second cause of permanent, long-term disability in the world. It is one of the world’s most disabling and disfi guring disease. It prevents the affl icted from experiencing a normal working and social life, resulting in matrimonial handicap, inferiority of self and furthering the cycle of poverty. Currently, more than 1.4 billion people in 73 countries are at risk. It affects 750 million every year and in India, 450 million people are at risk. Materials and Methods: A pre-experimental one-group pre-test and post-test design was conducted on March 2013 by interviewing 30 adults of selected Villages, Dakshina Kannada, Karnataka, India. A pre-designed and pretested questionnaire was used to collect the pre-test and post-test data. Questions were based on the knowledge regarding fi lariasis. Results were analyzed statistically using percentage, proportions and Chi-square test. Results: In this study, 63.33% had average knowledge regarding fi lariasis in pre-test, while in post-test, 60% had good knowledge. The mean post-test knowledge score (17.53) was found to be signifi cantly higher than mean pre-test knowledge score (12.9) at 0.05 level of signifi cance (t29 = 2.045, P < 0.05). Conclusion: Structured teaching program increase the knowledge of fi lariasis among the adults. Health education should be a part of regular activity of community health services.