© 2023 IJRAR February 2023, Volume 10, Issue 1 www.ijrar.org (E-ISSN 2348-1269, P- ISSN 2349-5138) IJRAR23A2007 International Journal of Research and Analytical Reviews (IJRAR) www.ijrar.org 281 “Knowledge And Practice Of Water, Sanitation And Hygiene (WASH) Among Under-Five Year Children’s Mother/Caregiver Residing In Sub- Metropolitan City, Kailali District, Far-Western Nepal” Mahesh Bahadur Mahara 1 , Binam Raj Shrestha 1 1 : Assistant Professor Amity College Mahendranagar, Far-west Nepal 1 : Health Officer at Water and AID, Kailali, Far-west Nepal Abstract A cross sectional descriptive study (from 1st July, 2020 to 31st November, 2020; sample size (N= 384); structured questionnaire; cluster sampling technique) was conducted to assess the Knowledge and practice on water, sanitation and hygiene among mother of under-5 year children in area of Dhangadhi sub-metropolitan city, Kailali district, Nepal and the data was entered into Microsoft Excel 2016 and analyzed in Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 25). The findings revealed that majority of respondents (44.3%) and (39.80%) had poor knowledge and average level of practice respectively. Level of knowledge were statistically significant with age (P-value=0.001) and income (P-value=0.040). Whereas, there was significant association between educational (P-value=0.000), occupation (P-value=.004) and ethnicity (P-value=0.000) with level of practice. It was concluded that hands washing is one of the most effective ways to prevent gastrointestinal parasitic infections. The educational level, occupation and ethnicity were accountable factors /determinants with practice level. There was a gap exists between the knowledge and the practice of mothers. so, there is need of health educational interventions as well as awareness programs regarding cause of diarrhea and its contribution in prevention of diarrhea and its morbidity can be carried out in local areas focusing disadvantaged societies. Keywords: Knowledge, Practice, Water, Sanitation, Hygiene, Mother, Under Five Children 1. Introduction Water, sanitation and hygiene(WASH) related matter are still burning issue in the context of developing countries like Nepal as many of the diseases related to (WASH) lead to a number of deaths. Out of 2.5 billion diarrheal cases occurring every year among under-five children, more than half occur from Africa and South Asia. (1). Nearly, 2 billion people still do not have basic sanitation facilities such as toilets or latrines (2). Millions have limited access to safe water services and practice poor hygiene behaviors, which are the leading causes of child mortality and morbidity (2). Clean water refers to free from germs, sanitation refers to proper disposal of human excreta, proper use of toilet, keep surrounding clean and Hygiene is commonly referring to cleanliness and handwashing with soap and water which halts from many waterborne disease and make improve the economy of the county. The households in the Tarai region were particularly prone to poor WASH related practices and more than 80 per cent of surveyed Madhesi Dalit households practiced open defecation (3). Incidence of diarrhoea per thousand under age 5 children was 385 in FY 2017/18, being highest at Karnali (709) followed by Sudur Pachhim (648) (4). Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal is a landlocked country located in South Asia and geographically divided into three part (terai, hilly and mountain) and states into seven part. Sudur Pachhim is western part of Nepal as it is one of the most flood affected Tarai areas and remote area of Nepal. Dhanagdhi SMC is my study site which lies in Tarai part of sudhur pachhim province seven. As there is proportional relationship between over population and sanitation as well as health. The purpose of the study is to understand the knowledge and practice of WASH behavior and its practice among the