Page 11 - IJSA, Vol. 4, No 2, 2021

International Journal of Science Annals, Vol. 5, No. 1-2, 2022
рrint ISSN: 2617-2682; online ISSN: 2707-3637; DOI:10.26697/ijsa

SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES. Education

ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Impact of Knowledge and Perception
of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan on the Health

Behavior Patterns of Rural Residents in India

Authors’ Contribution: 1 ABCEFG 2 CDEF
A – Study design; Madhankumar V. , Udhayabashkaran K. ,
B – Data collection; Arularasan S. 1 EFG , Kayalvizhli P. 1 BEFG

C – Statistical analysis; 1
D – Data interpretation; 2 Govt Thiruvarur Medical College, Tamilnadu, India
Govt Mohan Kumaramangalam Medical College, Salem Tamilnadu, India
E – Manuscript preparation;
F – Literature search; Received: 04.11.2022; Accepted: 07.12.2022; Published: 25.12.2022
G – Funds collection
Abstract
Background and Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (SBA) was launched by the Prime Minister of India to
Aim of Study: accelerate the efforts for achieving universal sanitation. To ensure adequate
participation, community must be sensitized about the mission objectives and its
role in bringing the desired change.
The aim of the study: to assess the knowledge, perception and practices regarding
SBA among rural people, and to study the association between their socio
epidemiological factors and awareness regarding SBA.

Material and Methods: Community based cross-sectional study was conducted for duration of 6 months
(April to September 2021) at a rural area of south Tamilnadu. A sample of 250
subjects was included and was administered a predesigned, pretested, semi
structured questionnaire. The responses were recorded and appropriate
statistical tests were applied.

Results: Mean age group of our study participants was 47.6 ± 9.8 years. Television 126
(50.4%) and newspaper 41 (16.4%) were found to be the main source of
information about SBA. This study showed out of 250 participants, 142 (56.8%)
of them had good knowledge and 174 (69.6%) had good perception score. Our
study found a statistical significant association between educational status and
level of knowledge and perception score.

Conclusions: The present study found that majority of the subjects were aware of SBA and were
having positive attitude and perception but very less practicing in our day today
life. Increasing awareness regarding health hazards of open-air defecation and
improper disposal of solid waste will create a change in their behavior in
adopting healthy lifestyle.

Keywords: knowledge, perception, behavior patterns, practices, environmental sanitation,
community
Copyright: © 2022 Madhankumar V., Udhayabashkaran K., Arularasan S., Kayalvizhli P.
Published by Archives of International Journal of Science Annals
DOI and UDC DOI https://doi.org/10.26697/ijsa.2022.1-2.2 UDC 37.018.7:613.41
Conflict of interests: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interests
Peer review: Double-blind review
Source of support: This research did not receive any outside funding or support
Information about Madhankumar Velu (Corresponding Author) – https://orcid.org/0000-0002-
the authors: 3453-126X; [email protected]; MD Community Medicine,
Assistant Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Govt Thiruvarur
Medical College, Tamilnadu, India.
Udhayabashkaran Kadirvelu – https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8339-7634; MD
Community Medicine, Assistant Professor, Department of Community Medicine,
Govt Mohan Kumaramangalam Medical College, Salem Tamilnadu, India.
Arularasan Samraj – https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8700-851X; Assistant
Professor, Department of Orthopaedics, Govt Thiruvarur Medical College,
Tamilnadu, India.
Kayalvizhi Palanichamy – https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7540-3926; Govt
Thiruvarur Medical College, Tamilnadu, India.

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