Knowledge regarding Dengue among the Nursing Students of Selected Nursing College at Birgunj

Abstract

Introduction: Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral disease that has rapidly spread in all regions of WHO in recent years. Dengue is widespread throughout the tropics, with local variations in risk influenced by rainfall, temperature and unplanned rapid urbanization. The aim of the study is to assess the knowledge regarding dengue among the nursing students of selected nursing college at Birgunj. The results of the study will help identify the status of knowledge and requirement of training to the nurses in this particular disease.

Materials and Methods: This is a descriptive cross-sectional research design conducted in National Medical College Nursing Campus, Birgunj. In this study, study population are the nursing students studying PCL nursing in National Medical College Nursing Campus. The total sample size is 98 using total enumerative sampling technique for sample selection. Formal Ethical clearance letter was taken from the research committee of National Medical College, Institutional Review Committee (IRC) and formal consent was also taken from all the participants. Data was organized in order for editing, classifying, coding and tabulating the information.

Results: A total of 98 participants were involved in this study. The maximum number of participant was of 19 years and majority of them belonged to Bhramin/Chhteri ethnicity. The maximum number of participants belonged to PCL nursing 1st year (n=34, 35%) followed by PCL Nursing 2nd Year and 3rd year (n=32, 32.5%) each. Similarly, majority of the study participants were unmarried (n=86, 88%). The results revealed no association between the respondents knowledge scores with age (p=0.15); educational qualifications (p=0.87); duration of experience (p=0.58). The findings of the study suggests that majority of the participants were aware about the cause and spread of dengue fever. The majority of participants were known to have a good knowledge on the signs and symptoms in dengue fever; however only 66% of the participants were knowing about the first case of the dengue fever.

Conclusion: The study gives a conclusion that the formal teaching learning activities focusing on the different aspects of dengue fever needs to be implemented in the courses of the nursing students. The training regarding the same should be mainstay part of the dengue fever knowledge.