RESUMO
The present study focused on the levels of knowledge about development among mothers. This is the first population-based study to examine maternal knowledge of child development in urban environments in a Gujarat. This research supports other studies conducted on mothers on the finding that majority have inadequate knowledge about child development. Objectives: This study was carried out with the objective to find out the levels of knowledge of mothers regarding identification of developmental milestones of child and factors contributing to it. Method: It was a cross-sectional study conducted amongst 195 mothers by interviewing, with objective to measure knowledge score regarding developmental milestones of child by mothers from an urban health training centre area affiliated to community medicine department, Govt. medical college, Bhavnagar. Results: Out of 195 mothers, maximum 148 (75.9%) mothers had average score of knowledge followed by 26(13.3%) had good and 21(10.8%) had poor score. The independent t-test between knowledge score of mothers did have a significant difference with respect to religion, caste, education, status of mother employment and mother native place. Pearson's correlation coefficient “r” between knowledge score of mothers and age, number of family members, per capita income, years of education were significantly different from 0. Conclusion: We conclude that the most of mothers had average knowledge about developmental milestones. Further, it was observed that knowledge regarding motor development was higher than cognitive milestone. Age of mother, religion, caste, level of education, employment status, socio-economical status and native place of mother were associated with good knowledge score of mothers regarding child development.