https://imcjms.com/public Ibrahim Medical College Journal of Medical Science https://imcjms.com/public/registration/journal_full_text/114 Mon, 10 Oct 2016 14:01:12 +0000   Maternal education is significantly related to early childhood morbidity and mortality. In Bangladesh, most mothers do not have a correct knowledge on exclusive breastfeeding and the appropriate time for introduction of weaning foods; and only 3% of them know how to prepare proper weaning foods1. Another study conducted in the rural population reported that according to Gomez classification, 96% of children had varying degrees of protein energy malnutrition (PEM) (28.4% mild, 58.2% moderate and 9.2% severe)2. Timely weaning, education and promotion of essential vaccination may reduce childhood malnutrition, especially severe PEM. It has also been reported that the prevalence of breastfeeding in Bangladesh is one of the highest in the world where diarrheal diseases are hyper-endemic and issues of breastfeeding in several diarrheal diseases have been well documented3. We undertook this study to determine knowledge, attitude and feeding behavior of the mothers in a rural community. A total of 500 families were visited in four villages. Of these families, 409 (81.1%) women were selected. Of the 91 non-participants, 85 women had no children below 5 years and only 6 women refused to participate. The mean age of the participants was 25 years (16-45y). The average family size was 4 (4-11) and the average monthly expenditure was 3751 (500- 15000) taka. About 25% were illiterate and 95% were housewives. Most of the families had access to tube well water for drinking and domestic purposes. Of them, 94% had living rooms with corrugated tin sheet. It may be concluded that about one-fourth of the rural mothers were illiterate though the feeding practices for their children during fever and diarrhea were satisfactory (70 – 88%). As regards weaning practices, about 38% were found not giving their babies supplementary food and almost one-third did not know the beneficial effects of fruits and vegetables for their babies. The low income and high illiteracy among rural mothers were found to affect the rearing practices and also nutrition during pregnancy and lactation. More studies are needed to confirm our findings and it is important to initiate programs for educating mothers with special emphasis on energy dense food during pregnancy and lactation and to emphasize the requirements of fruits and vegetables.   1.Das DK, Ahmed S. Knowledge and attitude of the Bangladeshi rural mothers regarding breastfeeding and weaning. Indian J Pediatr 1995; 62(2): 213-7. 3.Mitra AK, Rabbani F. The importance of breastfeeding in minimizing mortality and morbidity from diarrhoeal diseases: the Bangladesh perspective. J Diarrhoeal Dis Res 1995; 13(1): 1-2. 2026 Ibrahim Medical College. All rights reserved.