A STUDY TO ASSESS THE EFFECTIVENESS OF A STRUCTURED TEACHING PROGRAMME (STP) REGARDING CHILD EXPLOITATION IN TERMS OF KNOWLEDGE AMONG MOTHERS WITH UNDER-FIVE CHILDREN IN SELECTED AREAS OF VADODARA, GUJARAT

Abstract

Child exploitation is a pervasive social and public health issue that adversely affects the physical, psychological, and social development of children. Mothers play a pivotal role in safeguarding children against exploitation, particularly during the vulnerable under-five age group. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of a Structured Teaching Programme (STP) regarding child exploitation in terms of knowledge among mothers with under-five children in selected areas of Vadodara, Gujarat.

A quantitative research approach with a pre-experimental one-group pre-test post-test design was adopted. Sixty mothers of under-five children were selected using non-probability convenience sampling. Data were collected using a structured knowledge questionnaire before and after the implementation of the STP. The results revealed a significant improvement in post-test knowledge scores compared to pre-test scores, indicating the effectiveness of the STP. The study highlights the importance of educational interventions in empowering mothers to prevent child exploitation.