Effectiveness of a Structured Pharmaceutical Educational Intervention on Maternal Knowledge of Pediatric Vaccines, Immunization Schedules, and Vaccine-Preventable Diseases: A Quasi-Experimental Study.

BACKGROUND: Immunization is a cornerstone of public health, preventing childhood morbidity and mortality. However, inadequate maternal knowledge often leads to incomplete immunization coverage. AIM: To evaluate the effectiveness of a structured teaching program (STP) on knowledge regarding the immunization schedule among mothers of children under five. METHODOLOGY: A quasi-experimental one-group pretest-posttest design was employed, involving 50 mothers in Sanarpalayam, Namakkal District, selected via purposive sampling. A structured questionnaire with 30 multiple-choice questions assessed knowledge. Data were analyzed using descriptive (mean, standard deviation [SD]) and inferential statistics (paired t-test, Chi-square test). RESULTS: The mean knowledge score improved from 13.5 (SD = 4.05) in the pretest to 24.5 (SD = 5.03) in the posttest, with a 36% increase in the mean percentage score (t = 19.65, P < 0.05). Significant associations were observed between pretest knowledge and age (χ 2 =11.56, P = 0.012) and education (χ 2 =13.03, P = 0.025). CONCLUSION: The STP significantly enhanced maternal knowledge of immunization schedules, emphasizing the need for ongoing maternal education to improve vaccination coverage and child health outcomes.