Assessing the Impact of Structured Vitamin A Education on Mothers of Young Children in Kuppam

For young children, particularly those under five, Vitamin A is vital for health and development. It proves indispensable, supporting robust growth, strengthening immunity, protecting healthy vision, and ensuring skin integrity. Ensuring adequate Vitamin A intake is key to supporting optimal development, providing crucial protection against infections, and significantly contributing to overall well-being. Against this backdrop, the present study sought to determine the efficacy of a carefully designed teaching intervention on maternal knowledge regarding Vitamin A requirements, sources, deficiency, and preventive measures. This research involved mothers of under-five children residing in selected areas within Kuppam, Chittoor district, Andhra Pradesh. The initial assessment revealed that knowledge levels were quite limited; a large majority (86.8%, n=118) possessed only moderate knowledge, while a notable portion (11.8%, n=16) demonstrated inadequate understanding, with very few mothers (1.5%, n=2) showing adequate knowledge. Following the intervention, the post-test results showed a dramatic improvement. A substantial majority (93.4%, n=127) now exhibited adequate knowledge, contrasting sharply with the small percentages reporting moderate (0.7%, n=1) or inadequate (5.9%) understanding. A paired t-test confirmed this significant shift, with the mean post-test knowledge score (25.06 ± 2.900) being statistically significantly higher than the mean pre-test score (6.13 ± 4.279), evidenced by a t-value of 42.782 (p < 0.001).