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1Mrs. Geetha B V, II Year MSc Nursing, Department Obstetrics and Gynecology, Masood College of Nursing, Mangaluru, Karnataka, India
2Department Obstetrics and Gynecology, Masood College of Nursing, Mangaluru, Karnataka, India
*Corresponding Author:
Mrs. Geetha B V, II Year MSc Nursing, Department Obstetrics and Gynecology, Masood College of Nursing, Mangaluru, Karnataka, India, Email:
Abstract
Background and Aim: Violence among intimate partners is a major public health concern resulting in violation of human rights. Efficacy of a planned education program on knowledge regarding intimate partner violence was investigated in this study. The study’s objective was to improve the fourth year B.Sc. nursing students’ understanding of intimate partner violence.
Methods: Two-group pre-test and post-test study design using a quasi-experimental approach was followed. Eighty fourth year BSc nursing students from select Mangaluru nursing colleges were included in the study using a convenient sampling technique. Statistical analysis was done using Chi-Square, paired and unpaired “t” tests, Fisher’s exact test.
Results: The mean pretest and post-test scores of the experiment group were 14.55 ± 3.637 and 18.73 ± 4.089, respectively, with a 28.69% improvement which was highly significant (P = 0.001). Overall difference in the knowledge between experimental and control groups was found to be significant (P = 0.007). No significant association was found between socio demographic factors and the pretest levels of knowledge in both the groups, except for the source of information regarding intimate partner violence (χ2 = 7.025; P = 0.008) in experiment group.
Conclusion: The study concluded that in comparison to their prior knowledge, fourth year BSc nursing students had a significantly higher understanding of intimate partner abuse after implementation of teaching programme. The intended teaching program can bring significant improvement among final year BSc Nursing students and suggested that further evidence-based research should be conducted to raise awareness, knowledge regarding intimate partner violence.
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Introduction
Gender-based violence is a well-known form of human rights violation worldwide. Its foundation is the disparity that exists between men and women. Men and women can both commit acts of gender-based violence, but the majority of its victims are women and girls.1 Globally, women’s rights are often undervalued and there is a severe public health issue with violence against women, including violence against intimate relationships and sexual violence.2 According to the OECD SIGI Report 2023 (Organization for Economic Cooperation & Development, Social Institution, and Gender Index), globally one in three women and girls (640 million) are affected by intimate partner violence (IPV). In India, in 2022, 31,677 cases of rape were registered; with an average of 86 cases per day, a woman or girl becomes victim of violence every 11 minutes.
IPV became worse during COVID-19 pandemic, with 45% increase in incidents of violence among women and girls, due to the extra stress of growing economic uncertainty, stay-at-home, and home policies.3 Crimes reported against women by National Commission for Women were 35,287 in 2022, which is the highest number over the past eight years with a 20.23% increase from 2019.
There is an utmost need for the healthcare industry to address the consequences of IPV, but more research is required to determine how healthcare workers (HCWs) and the community may be assisted in the screening, treatment, and prevention of IPV.4 Education has been cited as one of the most effective preventative measures against IPV.5 Through proper preservice and ongoing education, nurses can get the IPV awareness, knowledge, attitude, and readiness that are critical to their ability to manage clients suffering IPV. Therefore, keeping this goal in mind, the investigator had chosen final year nursing students to gain knowledge regarding Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) through planned teaching program which may enable them to recognise and provide comprehensive care to clients in the future.
Material and Methods
An evaluative approach of quasi-experimental, two group, pre and post-test design was chosen for the study. The study sample consisted of 80 final year BSc Nursing students, 40 in each group, selected from three nursing colleges in Mangaluru. The study employed convenient sampling in selecting nursing students. A structured knowledge questionnaire was developed by the investigator which included 30 multiple choice questions on intimate partner violence and its types, identifying clients, and prevention strategies of IPV and role of healthcare providers in identifying and caring for clients with IPV. The baseline proforma included age, gender, prior exposure to IPV victims, source of information on IPV. The tool was validated by subject experts in the field of Obstetrics & Gynecology Nursing and was tested for reliability (r=0.87). After assessing the study feasibility with a pilot study, investigators obtained permission from the college authorities and informed consent was obtained from the participants. The pre-test was performed for both the groups, following which a planned teaching programme on IPV was implemented for the experimental group. After eight days, post-test was conducted for both the groups. Data collected were noted on a master data sheet and statistical analysis was done to evaluate the effect of the intervention.
Results
Findings related to socio demographic variables of final year BSc nursing students
In this current study, mean age of the study participants was found to be 21.56 ± 0.70 years. It was observed that among experimental and control groups, 24 (60%) and 11 (27.5%), respectively were aged 20-21 years, while 16 (40%) and 29 (72.5%) were aged 22-23 years. Majority, i.e., 34 (85%) and 39 (97.5%) in experimental and control groups were females, whereas only 6 (15%) and 1 (2.5%) were males in experimental and control groups, respectively. Majority of subjects, i.e., 28 (70%) and 26 (65%) in control and experimental groups, respectively did not have any prior exposure to victims of intimate partner violence, with only 10 (25%) and 5 (7.5%) in control and experiment groups exposed to victims of intimate partner violence. Two (5%) and 11 (27.5%) subjects in control and experiment groups, respectively were not sure about their prior exposure to intimate partner violence. Most of the subjects, 36 (90%) and 22 (55%) had no information regarding intimate partner violence in both experimental and control groups, respectively. Whereas 4 (10%) and 18 (45%) subjects were aware of the information regarding intimate partner violence in experimental and control groups. Regarding the source of information, among the experimental group subjects, one participant (25%) obtained information from internet, one (25%) from newspapers, and two subjects (50%) from their peer group. In control group, 6 (33.3%) subjects received information from internet and peer group, 3 (16.7%) got information from newspapers and other sources of information on intimate partner violence.
Findings related to comparison of pre-test and post-test levels of knowledge
In the experimental group, in pretest, 67.5% of subjects had poor knowledge, 22.5% had moderate knowledge, and none of the subjects had good knowledge. In the post-test, majority of subjects (87.5%) demonstrated moderate knowledge and 12.5% had good knowledge. None of the subjects in the experimental group demonstrated poor level of knowledge about IPV in the post-test (Figure 1).
In the control group, 80% of subjects demonstrated poor knowledge and 20% had moderate knowledge and none of them showed good knowledge scores in pretest. In post-test, no significant difference were observed, with 72.5% showing poor knowledge, 27.5% showing moderate knowledge, while none of the subjects demonstrated good levels of knowledge regarding IPV
Table 1 depicts the overall knowledge scores of experimental and control groups in post-test. The planned interventional programme was found to be successful in raising knowledge regarding intimate partner violence (P = 0.007).
Association between the pretest knowledge scores regarding intimate partner violence and the selected demographic variables
The association between pretest knowledge scores and the source of information in the experimental group (χ2 = 7.025; P = 0.008) was significant, whereas no other significant association was noted for the rest of the variables.
Discussion
Finding related to the knowledge regarding intimate partner violence of the fourth year BSc nursing students pre and post administration of planned teaching program
This present study found that during pretest, 67.5% showed poor knowledge with an average score of 14.55 ± 3.637 and post the intervention, 87.5% of the subjects showed moderate knowledge with an average score of 18.73 ± 4.089. The control group showed similar same average scores (pretest 11.85 ± 4.179 & posttest 12.55 ± 4.495). The study results were similar to another study conducted in Saudi Arabia (2020) evaluating the effects of educational program regarding intimate partner violence. The study results found significant in preparation (P=.000) and knowledge (P=.000), with a mean pretest score of 30.61 (4.81), which increased to 40.96 (5.17) in the experimental group, while in the control group, the mean pre-test and post-test scores were maintained almost same i.e., 30.23 (5.97) and 30.26 (5.89), respectively (P=.000).6
Finding related to the effectiveness of planned teaching program on knowledge regarding intimate partner violence among fourth year BSc nursing students
In the present study, the mean pretest knowledge score was 14.55 ± 3.637 and mean post-test score was 18.73 ± 4.089 with mean difference of 4.18 (P = 0.001) in experimental group, while there was no significant difference observed in the pre- and post-test scores (P 0.432) in the control group. Overall knowledge score was significant (P = 0.007) indicating the effectiveness of intervention on IPV. An interventional pre and post-test study carried out among mental health professionals (MHPs) at a Tertiary Mental Health Hospital in Bengaluru, India’s southern region, supports the present study findings. Pre-post evaluation results indicated a significant improvement in knowledge, preparation, and attitude (P = 0.001).7
Finding related to the effectiveness of planned teaching program on knowledge regarding intimate partner violence among fourth year BSc nursing students
According to the current study, there was a significant correlation (χ2 = 7.025; P = 0.008) between the experiment group’s knowledge score and the source of information about intimate partner violence. The present study results are in agreement with the quasiexperimental study that evaluated how well domestic violence courses affected nursing students’ perceptions and awareness of signs of violence against women in Istanbul. The findings revealed that there was no statistically significant correlation with age, gender, parents’ educational attainment, and place of residence.8
Conclusion
Intimate partner violence is preventable. Creating awareness, early screening, diagnosis, proper management helps in reduction of cases of IPV. To increase the public awareness of IPV, a planned or structured training programme can be created and implemented.
Recommendations
The present study recommends to conduct routine sensitisation programs for staff and student nurses as cases of intimate partner violence are on rise in our society and it is the need of the hour to recognise the victims under care.
Acknowledgement
I want to thank Dr. Veena Gretta Tauro and my guide, Mrs. Bibi Augustin, for all of their help and advice during the study. Sincere appreciation to study participants.
Conflict of Interest
None
Supporting File
References
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