A Study to Assess the Knowledge of Road Safety Measures among School Childrens in Selected School at Guduvancherry Chennai

AR. Bharathi
^*Correspondence: Bharathi AR, Department of Nursing, Bharath Institute of Higher Education and Research, India, Email:

Keywords

Road traffic accidents • Assess • Knowledge • School children

Introduction

The world Health Day 2004 focused on this rapidly growing public health problem of accidents. The “Road Safety is no accident” is a message to the public that be solution to this grave problem lies in their own hands. Action can be take number of fronts to prevent these neediness deaths and disabilities, and the immense loss and suffering they cause. Many programmers and policies exist to prevent road traffic crashes. They include strategies to address rates of speed and alcohol consumption, promotion of helmets and seat belts and other restraints, and greater visibility of people walking and cycling.

Theme for World Health Day 2004 was road safety. On this day around the globe, hundreds of organizations were host events to help raise awareness about road traffic injuries, their grave consequences and enormous costs to society. They were also contributed to spreading the word that such injuries can be prevented. As adults, were responsible for young children’s safety around traffic whether they are pedestrians or passengers. “The aim of road safety is convey information to road users so as to enhance their knowledge about road safety issues, influence their behavior on the road and / or prepare them for new safety measures.

Seventy six people under the age of thirty were killed in road traffic accident in 2007, down by nine from the previous year. In total 233 people lost their lives. The number of children road traffic fatalities increased when compared with 2006. On average, twenty children have died each year during2000. In2006, fifty three persons killed (45–54years) in road traffic accidents. April 19th, 2007, GENEVA-road traffic crashes were the leading cause of death among young people between ten and twenty four years, according to a new report published by World Health Organization as part of the first United National Global road safety week 23–29 April 2007.

Current figures are alarming enough. Even more alarming are trends. If they continue by 2020, the number of people killed and disabled every day on the world’s roads will have grown by more than 60% making road traffic injuries a leading contribute or to the global burden of disease and injury. Today they account for 90% of the deaths and disabilities resulting from road traffic injuries. Soon, that will rise to 95%. By taking action now and by working together, we can reverse the current trends and save millions of adults and children from death and disability between now and 2020, and many millions more people in the years beyond. Now-a-days only a few children walk to school compared to previous generation. This is because parents feel safe to drive their children to school resulting in poor road crossing skills among children. Hence, children should be given awareness regarding road safety. There is less number of research studies done on knowledge of primary school children regarding road safety measures [1-20].

When the investigator was posted in Guduvancherry found that may many school children were lack of knowledge regarding road safety measures. Most of the school children they were not aware of road traffic accidents. This made the investigator to do a study “to assess the knowledge of road safety measures among school children at selected school at Guduvancherry in Chennai

Before data collection, the researcher got formal permission from principal of girl’s higher secondary school at Guduvancherry by submitting an application giving assurance to abide by the rules and regulations. The data collection period was 3 days. The investigator selected the subjects who fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Brief explanation was given about the purpose of study. Assurance was given that the data collected from the school children will be utilized only for the purpose of the study. The investigator introduced her to the subjects and collected demographic variables. The investigator used structured questionnaire method to collect data from subjects to assess the level of knowledge by using modified questionnaire. The duration of the questionnaire for each subject was about 15 to 20 minutes. Each day around 5 to 10 subjects were questioned.

Results

Table 1 shows the distribution of subjects according to their mode of transportation to the school. 16.6% (5) of students belongs to bicycle, 46.6% (14) of students belongs to by walk.

Table 1: Frequency and Percentage distribution of subjects according to Mode of transportation to school.

Figure 1 shows distribution of subjects according to their mode of transportation to school. 16.6 % (5) of students belongs to bicycle, 36.6 % (11) of students belongs to bus, 46.6 % (14) of students belongs to by walk.

Table 2 and Figure 2 shows the distribution of subjects according to their distance of travel from your home to school. 16.6% (11) of students belongs to >1km, 20% (6) of students belongs to >2km, 43.3% of students to >1km.

Table 2: Frequency and percentage distribution of subjects according to the distance of travel from your home to school.

Table 3 and Figure 3 shows the distribution of subjects according to what type of vehicle is there in your house. 86.6 %( 26) of students belongs to 2 wheeler, 3.3% (1) of students belongs to 4 wheeler, 10 % (3) of students belongs to both.

Table 3: Frequency and Percentage distribution of subjects according to what type of vehicle is there in your house.

Table 4 and Figure 4 shows the distribution of subjects according to how much traffic is there on your area. 46.6% (14) of students belongs to no traffic, 46.6 % (14) of students belongs to mild, 0% of students belongs to moderate, 6.6% (2) of students belongs to heavy.

Table 4: Frequency and percentage distribution of subjects according to how much traffic is there on your area.

Key note

✓ Inadequate knowledge: 0-7 marks.

✓ Moderately knowledge: 8-15 marks.

✓ Adequate knowledge: 16-20 marks.

Table 5 and Figure 5 describe the knowledge level of students. On the basis of knowledge score 0 (0%) had inadequate knowledge, 7(23.3%) had moderately adequate knowledge and 23 (76.6%) had adequate knowledge.

Table 5: Distribution of subjects according to the knowledge scores.

Discussion

The distribution of students according to their age. 26.6% (8) of students belongs to 10-11years. 33.3% (10) of students belongs to 11-12 years. 40% (12) of students belongs to 12-13years. The distribution of subjects according to their gender. 100% (30) of students belongs to females. According to their class studying. 33% (10) of students belongs to 6th, 33% (10) of students belongs to 7th, 33% (10) of belongs to 8th. Their mode of transportation to the school. 16.6% (5) of students belongs to bicycle, 46.6% (14) of students belongs to by walk. The distribution of subjects according to their distance of travel from your home to school.16.6% (11) of students belongs to >1km, 20% (6) of students belongs to >2km, 43.3% of students to >1km. shows the distribution of subjects according to what type of vehicle is there in your house. 86.6% (26) of students belongs to 2 wheeler, 3.3% (1) of students belongs to 4 wheeler, 10% (3) of students belongs to both. How much traffic is there on your area? 46. 6 %( 14) of students belongs to no traffic, 46.6% (14) of students belongs to mild, 0% of students belongs to moderate, 6.6% (2) of students belongs to heavy. The level of knowledge on students, shows 0 (0%) had inadequate knowledge, 7 (23.3%) had moderately adequate knowledge and 23 (76.6%) had adequate knowledge. Association between knowledge and demographic variables shows, there is no association between age, gender, class studying, mode of transportation to school, distance of travel from your home to school, what type of vehicle is there in your house, how much traffic on your area.

Nursing Practice

The vital role of the nurse in practical implication to promote health, to prevent illness, to restore health, to rehabilitate the defects, to alleviate suffering. The study implicates that the existing knowledge and practice regarding road safety measures which helps to prevent the road accidents among school students. When we create awareness among the school students. The school children apply their knowledge and practice and also added responsibility in educating school children in regard to road safety measures and help in prevention of road accident by modification of life style.

Nursing Education

In nursing education the study give valid information for students regarding road safety measures. It provides opportunity to the students to organize and conduct health education program regarding road safety measures in various health setting. This study provides the wide knowledge about road safety measures to the school students. So that they are able to inculcate and deliver the excellent knowledge to the students.

Nursing Administration

Nursing administration should take foot step to create awareness about road safety measures through education program. Nursing personnel should conduct awareness program to school students regarding road safety measures. It is also an important to nurse administrators to formulate adequate policy in providing student education and also plan for manpower, money, material, method and time to conduct successful program with adequate student educational material.

Nursing Research

Nursing research is an important tool for developing body of professional knowledge. Nursing research could help the nurses to promote evidence based practice. The findings of the study can be utilized or motivating the nurse researcher to conduct further research study to assess the effectiveness of structured teaching program on evidence based practice of road safety measures among school children in order to get scientific knowledge.

The main objective of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of structured teaching program on evidence based practice of road safety measures in terms of knowledge and practice among school children in selected school, at Guduvancherry. Majority of the school children 14 (46.6%) are having the mode of transportation to school by walk. Majority of school children 13 (43.3%) are having distance of travel from home to school. Findings related to knowledge of road safety measures. According to knowledge level of school children 23 (76.6%) had adequate knowledge. According to association between knowledge and demographic variable there is a significant association between age and gender. The knowledge of school teachers helps to identify lack of knowledge on road safety measures among school children and it may reduce the occurrence of accident. A nurse can alleviate the problem of school children, which one of the main causes for accident and injure. Nurse plays an importance role in guiding teachers to gain knowledge on road safety measures and to achieve maximum level of health and wealth [21-34].

Conclusion

The knowledge of school teachers helps to identify lack of knowledge on road safety measures among school children and it may reduce the occurrence of accident. A nurse can alleviate the problem of school children, which one of the main causes for accident and injure. Nurse plays a importance role in guiding teachers to gain knowledge on road safety measures and to achieve maximum level of health and wealth.

Funding

No funding sources.

Ethical Approval

The study was approved by the Institutional Ethics Committee.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Acknowledgement

The encouragement and support from Bharath University, Chennai is gratefully acknowledged. For provided the laboratory facilities to carry out the research work.

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