HOMEMAKERS FROM UPPER SOCIOECONOMIC JOINT FAMILIES HAVING EARLIER MALE CHILD WOULD BE THE BEST PREDICTORS FOR ADEQUATE KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICE REGARDING MANAGEMENT OF ARI AND DIARRHOEA AMONG UNDER-FIVE CHILDREN IN URBAN SLUM, KOLKATA.

Background: India leads in under-five child mortality. ARI and diarrheal diseases happen to be the most important causes responsible. Children residing in slum area are at risk owing to the environmental factors. This study aimed to determine the level of knowledge, describe the practice regarding ARI and diarrhoea of under-five children among mothers and find out any association of the knowledge level with the various factors influencing it. Methodology: This cross-sectional study performed in the months of August and September, 2014 was conducted on mothers with at least one living under-five child, whose families were permanent residents of the area. A predesigned pretested semi-structured schedule was used, on the participants chosen based on cluster sample design. Results: Study was conducted on 101 mothers. Mean educational level was up to 5th grade. 81.2% of the last born-children of the participants were delivered in hospitals. Majority of the mothers were aware about the danger signs and majority also sought medical care. Good practices were observed, which was assessed on mothers of 9 children suffering from ARI, 22 having cough with illnesses and 30 with diarrheal diseases. Though significant associations were not documented but this study found out the odds of having high knowledge level were more in favour of mothers in joint families, home-makers, having an earlier male child, upper socio-economic status. Conclusions: Home-makers living in an upper socioeconomic joint family, having a male child earlier had a high knowledge level. Most of the mothers were aware about the danger signs but knowledge regarding fluid management was lacking, resulting in imperfect practice.