Citation

Masilamani N, Kothandan P, Basker MM, Immanuel SG. Indian J. Community Med. 2022; 47(3): 356-359.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2022, Indian Association of Preventive and Social Medicine, Publisher MedKnow)

DOI

10.4103/ijcm.ijcm_1021_21

PMID

36438524

PMCID

PMC9693951

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Children and adolescents are the most vulnerable groups for road traffic injuries in India (39%). Hourly, forty youngsters die in road traffic crashes. Road safety education aims at reducing this burden. Peer-led education (PLE) is a credible approach influencing students to modify their behavior positively. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of PLE in terms of knowledge and attitude toward road safety among adolescents.

METHODOLOGY: A single-group pretest-posttest design among 113 adolescents was conducted using a two-stage sampling technique. Ten selected and trained student peers provided PLE on road safety to 103 fellow students using a teaching aid. Effectiveness of PLE on knowledge and attitude was assessed pre- and postintervention.

RESULTS: Post PLE, the mean knowledge score of subjects increased from 10.5 to 17.5 with a significant mean difference of -6.9 (P < 0.001). The mean attitude score of subjects had increased from 46.7 to 48.1. A positive statistically significant correlation (P = 0.04) between knowledge and attitude and associations between certain sociodemographic variables were noted.

CONCLUSION: Knowledge and attitude of subjects regarding road safety improved after PLE. Innovative teaching methods can be used to promote healthy behaviors among adolescents.

Language: en

Keywords

attitude; Adolescents; road safety; effectiveness; knowledge; peer-led education