2023, Vol. 5, Issue 2, Part B

Behavioral disorders in children, such as Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) and Conduct Disorder (CD), can have a significant impact on their development. Understanding and identifying the early signs of these disorders is essential for early intervention and support.

Methods: This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of a Structured Training Program (STP) in improving primary school teachers' knowledge about the signs of ODD and CD. A quasi-experimental design was used, with one group of 200 primary school teachers. They were assessed using a self-structured knowledge assessment checklist before and after the STP. The checklist included 30 early signs of ODD and CD, and teachers' knowledge was categorized as poor, average, or good.

Results: In the pre-test, the majority of teachers had average knowledge (80.5%) and some had poor knowledge (19.5%). After the STP, the post-test showed a significant improvement in knowledge, with 89.5% of teachers now having good knowledge and 10.5% with average knowledge. The mean difference between pre-test and post-test scores was 10.255, and the statistical analysis showed a highly significant improvement (p=0.001). These results indicate that the structured training program effectively increased teachers' knowledge of behavioral disorders.

Conclusion: The study concludes that the Structured Training Program was successful in enhancing primary school teachers' knowledge of early signs of ODD and CD. This increased knowledge can enable teachers to identify and address behavioral issues in children at an early stage, contributing to better support and intervention. Early recognition of behavioral disorders is vital for the well-being and development of children. This study highlights the importance of providing training to primary school teachers to improve their ability to identify such disorders and ultimately help children regain control of their behavior.