Effectiveness of a Structured Teaching Programme in Enhancing Maternal Knowledge of Milk Biscuit Syndrome among Toddlers

Background: Appropriate complementary feeding during early childhood is essential for optimal growth and development. Milk Biscuit Syndrome (MBS), a faulty feeding practice in which milk and commercially available biscuits are routinely used as meal substitutes, is increasingly observed among toddlers and contributes to nutritional deficiencies, anemia, and growth faltering. Maternal knowledge plays a crucial role in preventing such practices. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of a structured teaching programme on mothers' knowledge regarding the impact of Milk Biscuit Syndrome among toddlers. Methods: A quantitative, pre-experimental one-group pre-test?post-test design was adopted. The study was conducted among 30 mothers of toddlers aged 1?3 years enrolled in a selected preschool at Borsi, Durg, Chhattisgarh, using non-probability purposive sampling. Data were collected using a self-structured knowledge questionnaire. Following the pre-test, a structured teaching programme on Milk Biscuit Syndrome was administered. Post-test assessment was conducted after seven days. Descriptive and inferential statistics, including paired t-test and chi-square test, were used for data analysis. Results: The mean pre-test knowledge score was 6.4 (32%), which increased to 14.2 (71%) in the post-test, showing a mean difference of 7.8. The calculated paired t-test value (t = 10.90, p < 0.05) indicated a statistically significant improvement in knowledge following the structured teaching programme. In the post-test, 73.33% of mothers demonstrated excellent knowledge, while none remained in the average category. No significant association was found between knowledge scores and selected sociodemographic variables. Conclusion: The structured teaching programme was effective in significantly improving mothers' knowledge regarding the impact of Milk Biscuit Syndrome among toddlers. Educational interventions by nursing professionals can play a vital role in preventing faulty feeding practices and promoting healthy nutritional behaviors during early childhood.