EXPLORING THE PERCEPTIONS AND READINESS OF SECOND-YEAR MBBS STUDENTS REGARDING NATIONAL HEALTH PROGRAMMES: A KAP STUDY

Dr. Pooja Agrawal*, Dr. Virendra Kushwaha, Dr. Pushpendra Pushkar, Dr. BK Shoraisham,
Dr. Nasreen Fatma Khan and Dr. Geeta Singh Rana

ABSTRACT

Introduction: The Indian healthcare system includes individuals and groups dedicated to meeting population needs. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare oversees Indian healthcare, showing the government's commitment to public health. The Indian government has launched public health projects since the 1950s to combat communicable diseases, enhance sanitation, nutrition, population growth, and rural health. Aim of the study: To assess the knowledge, attitude and practice among second-year MBBS students about various National Health Programmes. Material and method: Out of a total of 250 students, only 152 students participated in the pre-test and 136 students in the post-test. The students were sensitized about the national health programmes and their objectives. Pre-test and post-test responses were collected to analyse the impact of the programmes on the student's knowledge, attitudes and practice. Results: The study had a male preponderance with most participants aged 19-20, followed by 21-22. Most students understood the Poshan Abhiyan program's goal of fighting malnutrition and improving nutrition. Students also recognised the need of promoting uniform immunisation campaigns through the UIP. The study also showed students' dedication to promoting the National Mental Health Programme (NMHP) and the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme. Students recognised the importance of these initiatives in promoting mental health, destigmatizing mental illness, and controlling vector-borne infections. This study shows that medical students in India support national health programmes. The results indicate that these students are knowledgeable about the programmes and willing to help implement them.

Keywords: Pre-test, Post-test, National Health Programmes, National Health Mission, Universal Immunisation Programme.