A STUDY TO ASSESS THE KNOWLEDGE & ATTITUDE AMONG MOTHERS OF UNDER FIVE CHILDREN REGARDING PLAY NEEDS DURING HOSPITALIZATION IN SELECTED HOSPITALS OF PUNE CITY

Introduction:Play is essential for the development because it contributes to the physical, social, cognitive, and emotional well-being of youth and children. Play is a vital part of the hospitalized child’s plan of care. Play offers, the child an opportunity or diversion, creative expression, and effective coping. Motheris a most important person as child feels secure and safe in mother’slaps. As Hospitalization can be a stressful and threatening experience for children.¹

The present study title:Knowledge & Attitude among mothers of under five children regarding play needs during hospitalization in selected hospitals of Pune city. The objective of the study was to assess 1)the knowledge among mothers of under 5children regarding play needs during hospitalization, 2)Attitude among mothers of under 5 children regarding play needs during hospitalization,3) To find out the association between knowledge and attitude with selected demographic variables.

Material and Methods:In present study, researcher adopted Non-Experimental Descriptive design. Data was collected by Non-probability purposive sampling technique.

Result: Majority 52% mothers are from 25.1-30yrs,54% were graduate,67% were homemakers,majority 82.5% were having information regarding play needs.In demographic of child majority 68% were toddler , majority 73.5% were boys & 91% have <3 days hospitalization of children.Majority 86% mothers are having Good knowledge and 14% are having Average knowledge. The total mean knowledge score is 14.45 with SD 1.86. The majority 96.50% of mothers are having highly favorable attitude and 3.5% are having Moderatelyfavorable attitude and total mean of attitude score is 39.22 with SD 3.15.

Conclusion:Majority 86% mothers are having Good knowledge and majority 96.50% mothers are having Highly Favorable attitude. Mothers are aware about the importance of play needs of under-five children and have positive attitude towards play needs in under-five children during hospitalization.