KNOWLEDGE-PRACTICE GAP IN CHILDRENS NUTRITION AMONG MOTHERS OF YOUNG CHILDREN: AN URBAN-RURAL COMPARATIVE STUDY

Child nutrition is a fundamental determinant of growth, development, and overall health during early childhood. Inadequate nutrition during the under-five period can lead to long-term physical, cognitive, and developmental impairments that may persist into adulthood. Mothers, as primary caregivers, play a pivotal role in ensuring appropriate feeding practices and nutritional care for young children. Therefore, assessing maternal knowledge and practices regarding child nutrition is essential, particularly across diverse socio-cultural settings such as urban and rural communities. The present study aimed to assess and compare the knowledge and practices related to child nutrition among mothers of under-five children residing in selected urban and rural areas of District Patiala, Punjab, and to examine the association between knowledge and practices with selected socio-demographic variables. A descriptive comparative research design was adopted for the study. The research was conducted in June 2025, and a total of 70 mothers of under-five children were selected using purposive sampling, comprising 35 mothers from urban areas and 35 from rural areas.