Page 12 - 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

Introduction
Environmental sanitation is a major public health issue Sampling: Systemic random sampling.
in India (Pandve, 2008). For every human being potable At 95% confidence level and taking the awareness of
drinking water, sanitation and healthy hygiene practices SBA in rural area to be 62% (Kishore et al, 2018) and
are important to sustain healthy life. Most cities and with a relative error of 10%, the sample size (n) comes
towns in India are facing issues of dense settlement, out to be 240 using the formula (see Equation 1).
shortage of water supply and inadequate facilities for
2
disposal of human excreta (Ganesh et al., 2011; Nath, n = Zα ×p×q / L , (1)
2
2003). As our Father of the nation, M. K. Gandhi stated,
“Sanitation is more important than Independence” and Zα – value of the standard normal variate corresponding
dreamt about clean India (Chaudhary, 2017). Adequate to level of significance alpha 5% (1.96);
sanitation, together with good hygiene and safe water, is p – awareness of SBA (0.62 or 62%);
fundamental to good health and to social and economic q = 1 – p (0.38 or 38%);
development (Singh, 2008). The issues of developing L – allowable error (10%).
understanding of the importance of maintaining sanitary
and hygienic standards in public places were described The sample size came to be 240. A total of 250 subjects
in the study by Melnyk (2020). Among seven billion were included in this study.
people in the world, about 2.5 billion people do not have Data Collection Procedure
access to improved sanitation and 1 billion people A house-to-house survey was done in a rural area of
defecate in the open air (World Health Organization & Tamilnadu, village Adiyakamangalam. Every third
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), 2014). In house was selected systematically, from each selected
developing regions where people are most vulnerable to house all eligible individuals of 20 years, and above was
infection, only one in every three people has access to included in the study. The study subjects were
improved sanitation (World Health Organization, & personally interviewed on face-to-face interview. For
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), 2017). each study subject a questionnaire was administered.
Globally, around 2.4 million deaths (4.2% of all deaths) The purpose of this study was explained to each subject
could be prevented annually if everyone practiced in the local language, before conducting the study and a
appropriate hygiene and had good, reliable sanitation written and informed consent was taken which was
and drinking water (Pruss-Ustun et al., 2008). bilingual in English and Tamil.
In India, 53.0% of households or 600 million people The KAP of subjects toward SBA questionnaire items
defecate in open, out of which 69.3% belongs to rural were rated and scored according to the following
areas and 18.6% belongs to urban areas (Gopal et al., patterns.
2009). Poor environmental sanitation, improper disposal For this study purpose, knowledge was scored: +1 was
of human excreta, and poor personal hygiene help to given for the correct answer and 0 for the incorrect
perpetuate and spread diarrheal diseases in India answer. Scoring was done. Score 0-2 was considered as
(Bhattacharya, 2003). poor knowledge, 2-5 considered as average knowledge
Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (SBA) was launched by the and more five as good knowledge. Attitude was also
Prime Minister of India to accelerate the efforts for scored: +1 was awarded for positive attitude and 0 was
achieving universal sanitation. The core objectives of awarded for negative attitude. Score less than 0-2 was
SBA are to bring about an improvement in the general termed as poor attitude, 2-5 as average and more than
quality of life in the rural areas (Ministry of Jal Shakti, five was taken as good attitude.
2017). To ensure adequate participation, community Statistical Analysis
must be sensitized about the mission objectives and its Data entered and analysed in Statistical Package for
role in bringing the desired change. With this Social Sciences (SPSS-IBM) software version 21. For
background, this study was undertaken to assess qualitative variables proportions for quantitative
knowledge, perception and practices regarding SBA variables mean, median, range and standard deviation
among rural people of Thiruvarur district in Tamilnadu. was calculated. Bivariate analysis to find the association
The aim of the study. To assess the knowledge and between determinants like education was done. P-value
perception regarding SBA among rural people of of <0.05 was considered as significant.
Thiruvarur, and to identify their pattern of practices Ethical consideration:
regarding SBA prevailing in their community. 1. Informed written consent was taken from all study
subjects. No pressure coercion was exerted on subjects
Materials and Methods for participation in the study.
A health center based, cross-sectional study was 2. Confidentiality and privacy was ensured at all stages
conducted in a rural setting Adiyakkamangalam village, (females were examined only in presence of one female
District of Thiruvarur from April 2021 to September attendent).
2021. The study population included all males and 3. Institutional Ethical Committee clearance was
females aged 20 years and above residing in this area. obtained.
This area was selected as it is catered by the Department 4. Safety COVID-19 precautions measures were strictly
of Community Medicine, Govt Thiruvarur Medical followed.
College.

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