A study to assess the knowledge on eating disorders among school girls in a selected nursing school at district Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan with a view to develop educational package on eating disorders

Abstract

Introduction: Eating disorders in Western and non-Western countries and even from the researcher personal experience she felt that adolescent girls are concerned about their physical maintenance of the body, so they are much prone to eating disorders (Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa and Purging disorder). Thus, the researcher felt a need to assess the knowledge of adolescent girls regarding eating disorders among adolescent girls in selected Nursing School of District Sawai Madhopur Rajasthan and thereafter prepare an educational package on prevention of eating disorders to promote a disease free healthy lifestyle in adolescent girls. Methodology: A Quantitative Survey research approach was used to assess the knowledge on eating disorders among school girls in a selected nursing school District Sawai Madhopur Rajasthan. A Non-experimental Descriptive Research design was used to assess the knowledge on eating disorders among school girls in a selected nursing school at District Sawai Madhopur Rajasthan, and their relationship with selected variables. In the non-experimental research design the researcher does not manipulate the independent variables and observes the phenomena as they occur naturally. Descriptive survey method is the entailed precise measurement of phenomena as they currently exist within a single group. Result: This deals with analysis and interpretation of the data collected from 100 school girls on eating disorders in a selected nursing school at District Sawai Madhopur Rajasthan. The data thus analyzed and interpreted by using descriptive and inferential statistics. The level of significance chosen was P <0.05. Regarding good level of knowledge on eating disorders among school girls, maximum 38 (66.67%) school girls who were taking meal 2 times in day and minimum 19 (33.33%) school girls who was meal taking 3 times in a day. Regarding average level of knowledge on eating disorders among school girls, maximum was 19 (70.37%) school girls who were taking meal 2 times in day and minimum 8 (29.62%) school girls who were taking meal 3 times in day. Regarding excellent level of knowledge on eating disorders among school girls, maximum 8 (50%) school girls who were taking meal 2 times in day as well as 3 times in a day. There was statistically non-significant relationship between Level of knowledge on eating disorders among school girls and number of meals in a day at P < 0.05. Conclusions: The study recommended that educational package for school girls on the prevention of eating disorders among school girls was prepared to enhance their knowledge regarding prevention of eating disorders. This educational package will be effective in bringing about a desired change in the school girls to adopt the preventive measures to prevent eating disorders among school girls.