A STUDY OF KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE AMONG MOTHERS TOWARDS ACUTE RESPIRATORY INFECTION IN URBAN AND RURAL COMMUNITIES OF BURDWAN DISTRICT, WEST BENGAL, INDIA.

Background:Acute respiratory tract infection (ARI) is responsible for considerable morbidity and mortality in under five children in all over the world. World Health Organization in 1990, estimated that ARI constituted the most common causes of death in under five children, being responsible for 4.3 million of 12.9 million death worldwide [1]. In developing countries 30% of mortality in under fives is due to ARI. ARI is in fact the major cause of preventable death among under five children in developing world [2]. In this scenario study of knowledge, attitude and practice of mother, especially in this part of the world, where there is no data, is important.Objective: To study and assess the knowledge, attitude and practice regarding the ARI among mothers in both urban and rural communities of Burdwan district, West Bengal, India.Materials and Methods: A cross sectional study was covering 600 mothers living in urban and rural area of Burdwan district from October 2011 to February 2012.Result: Questionnaire regarding knowledge revealed that 40% of mothers preferred private set up as a place of choice for treatment (more in urban area 55%). 70% of mothers preferred allopathic medicine as a choice of type of treatment. 42.5% of mothers rated diseases as serious(more in urban area 55%). 50% mothers were illiterate (70% in rural area) and 66.7% mothers were housewives.Conclusion: The study strongly towards the low utilization of basic health services in government set up, lack of mother's education especially in prevention and control of ARI. Health education can change health care seeking behaviors and attitude of parents and other family members to take care of the ARI child during illness.