Assessment of Caregivers Awareness and Practice Regarding Childhood Pneumonia in Selected Urban Community, East Khasi Hills District, Meghalaya

Hima Das; Salam Premila Devi; Julee Moni Bharali; Pratibha Baro; Ankita Mohanta; Asma Tabassum; Barsha Bhagabati; Bamin Marry; Dikshita Das; Hiya Kamal Das; Showket Ahmad Seer; Sumarlang Ryndong; Sunali Sinha

doi:10.36948/ijfmr.2026.v08i05.89259

Assessment of Caregivers Awareness and Practice Regarding Childhood Pneumonia in Selected Urban Community, East Khasi Hills District, Meghalaya

Author(s)	Ms. Hima Das, Ms. Salam Premila Devi, Ms. Julee Moni Bharali, Ms. Pratibha Baro, Ms. Ankita Mohanta, Ms. Asma Tabassum, Ms. Barsha Bhagabati, Ms. Bamin Marry, Ms. Dikshita Das, Ms. Hiya Kamal Das, Mr. Showket Ahmad Seer, Ms. Sumarlang Ryndong, Ms. Sunali Sinha
Country	India
Abstract	Background: Childhood pneumonia remains an important cause of morbidity and mortality among children under five years. Caregivers play a central role in recognising symptoms, providing appropriate home care, adopting preventive measures and seeking timely treatment. Objectives: To assess caregivers' awareness and practice regarding childhood pneumonia and to determine their association with selected demographic variables. Methods: A quantitative, non-experimental cross-sectional study was conducted among 117 caregivers of children under five years residing in selected urban communities of East Khasi Hills District, Meghalaya. Consecutive sampling was used. Data were collected using a validated self-administered semi-structured questionnaire containing 8 demographic items, 11 awareness questions and 8 practice questions. Awareness scores of 8-11 were categorised as adequate and 0-7 as inadequate; practice scores of 6-8 were categorised as good and 0-5 as poor. Frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, Chi-square test and Fisher's exact test were used for analysis, with p <= 0.05 considered statistically significant. Results: Among the 117 caregivers, 69 (58.97%) had adequate awareness and 48 (41.03%) had inadequate awareness; the mean awareness score was 7.91 ± 2.07. Good practice was observed among 80 (68.38%) caregivers and poor practice among 37 (31.62%); the mean practice score was 6.09 ± 1.56. Awareness was significantly associated with caregiver age (Fisher's exact p = 0.042) and a history of pneumonia in the child during the previous six months (Fisher's exact p = 0.046). No selected demographic variable showed a significant association with practice. Conclusion: Although most caregivers demonstrated adequate awareness and good practice, substantial gaps remained. Continuous community-based health education focusing on danger signs, prevention, home care and timely healthcare-seeking may help strengthen caregiver responses to childhood pneumonia.
Keywords	Caregivers, Childhood Pneumonia, Awareness, Practice, Under-Five Children, Meghalaya
Published In	Volume 8, Issue 5, September-October 2026
Published On	2026-10-08
DOI	https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2026.v08i05.89259

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Assessment of Caregivers Awareness and Practice Regarding Childhood Pneumonia in Selected Urban Community, East Khasi Hills District, Meghalaya

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