Measuring the Knowledge of Rural School Children on Nutrition Education in Bihar, India

Abstract

This research study investigates the knowledge regarding nutrition education among rural school children in Bihar, India. The goal of the study is to evaluate the existing level of nutrition knowledge and comprehension among kids in rural regions and to pinpoint possible areas for development in nutrition education initiatives. The rural school students were subjected to an interview schedule. A sample of rural schoolchildren from different Bihar schools, ranging in age from 8 to 12, participated in the study. The environment was taken into consideration when choosing knowledge test questions. A 53-item knowledge test was put through a relevancy check with help from extension specialists, and 43 items were chosen for the test. Thirty extension workers from outside the research area pretested the 53 items.  Item analysis evoking difficulty index, discrimination index, and point biserial correlation were conducted based on the results of the pretesting. Items with difficulty indices between 0.3 and 0.8, discrimination indices equal or above 0.3, and substantial point biserial correlation at the 5% level of significance were chosen. Utilising the split-half method, the test's reliability was calculated and determined to be 0.70. Ultimately, 18 questions were chosen for the final knowledge test given to rural schoolchildren. This knowledge test reveals a knowledge gap about nutrition and its significance for general health and well-being among Bihar's rural schoolchildren. Most kids showed little understanding of key nutrients, food groupings, and their nutritional value. Additionally, there was a paucity of knowledge regarding the long-term effects of improper eating patterns and inadequate nutrition.