Knowledge, attitudes and practices of breastfeeding among rural and urban women.CHAPTER - IINTRODUCTIONBreast milk is the effective means of ensuring the health of the child. Breastfeeding is widely accepted as an optimal diet for infants because of the health benefits it offers the child. Lack of breastfeeding contributes to one million deaths each year worldwide.1 A US study found that breastfeeding can reduce government costs and save $3.6 billion and also saves the lives of infants. 2Breastfeeding helps reduce infant mortality and morbidity, particularly during the first year of life. 3Neonatal mortality can be reduced by 16.3% if breastfeeding is initiated from the first day and by 23.3% if it is initiated within an hour. Promoting breastfeeding is an essential component of child survival strategies. The Lancet Neonatal Survival Series included breastfeeding in its recommended package to reduce neonatal mortality. The World Health Organization Collaborative Study Team reported that infants breastfed for 2 months have high protection compared to older ages. 4Breastfeeding is valuable for the growth and development of the baby. This has many advantages for both the baby and the mother. It is easily digested. It contains antibodies that protect the baby from infections, allergies and asthma. It prevents obesity and gastroenteritis in children.5 28 It is clean, at the right temperature and in sufficient quantity to satisfy the needs of the child until the age of six months. It is inexpensive and easily available. Apart from the immediate benefits, it provides lifelong good health and benefits such as low risk of blood pressure, obesity and low cholesterol levels. The benefits to the mother are breastfeeding...... middle of paper ......trums; weaning practices and initiation of breastfeeding from the first hour thus contribute to improving breastfeeding rates. There are many differences in knowledge, attitudes and practices between rural and urban women, most studies have considered a compare and contrast parameter. It is therefore necessary to examine knowledge, attitudes and practices towards breastfeeding and compare rural and urban women. Information related to women's knowledge, attitudes and practices towards breastfeeding will provide information on various factors that influence breastfeeding practices and help plan specific intervention to promote breastfeeding among rural women and urban areas and, finally, improve full breastfeeding rates, in order to maximize breastfeeding. the benefits of breastfeeding for mother and baby and to reduce infant mortality rates.