Background:Breast feeding is more beneficial for the baby and the mother also. It provides the immunity to the baby and helping the mother to lose their weight after pregnancy and the breast milk is a natural contraception for the mother.

Aims and objectives: The study aim to assess the knowledge,practice and factor affecting the feeding behavior of working and non–working breastfeeding mothers of selected area.

The objective is to assess and compare the knowledge, practices and factors affecting the feeding behavior of working and non– working breastfeeding mothers and to find the association of levels of knowledge of working and non– working breastfeeding mothers with selected variables.

Material and methods: A Non–experimental, Descriptive Comparative Design was adopted for the study.Total 250 breastfeeding mothers (125 working and 125non–working) Barara Village, MCH Barara and Holi Village were selected by using purposive sampling technique. Structured Knowledge questionnaire, expressed practices checklist and checklist for factors affecting feeding behavior were used to assess the knowledge, practices and factors affecting the feeding behavior. Reliability of knowledge questionnaire was tested by KR₂₀(0.75), breastfeeding practices checklist(0.90)and factors affecting checklist (0.85)was tested by test– retest method respectively.

Results: :–Half (50.4%) of the working breastfeeding mothers were in the age group of 26–30 years and as compare to  half (49.6%) of the non–working breastfeeding mothers were in the age group of 20–25 years. Only 43.2% of the working breastfeeding mothers were graduated as compare to half of the (51.2%) non–working breastfeeding mothers were educated up to secondary.Most (68.8%) of the working breastfeeding mother were private employees as compared to all (100%) non–working breastfeeding mothers were house wife. Most (75.2%) of the working breastfeeding mothers work 5–6 hours in a day.Most (64.8%) of the working mothers have given only breastfeed to their baby. Only 18.4% working mothers had stored the breast milk.Most (52%) of the working and (56.8%) non –working breastfeeding mothers have a good knowledge about breastfeeding. Majority (99.2%) of the working and (98.4%) non– working breastfeeding mothers prefers only breast milk to feed their baby. Majority (99.2%), of the working and non–working (96.8%) breastfeeding mothers feed their baby every 2 hourly. All (100%) working and non–working breastfeeding mothers burp the baby after feed.  Majority (99.2%) of working and (93.6%) non–working mothers reported their baby feel satisfy after feeding and take sleep for 2–3 hours. Less than half (40%) of the working breastfeeding mothers feel pain during breastfeeding as compared most (62.4%) of the non– working breastfeeding mothers. Majority(90.4%) of the working breastfeeding mothers feel shy during breastfeeding in public places and in front of family member as compared to most (72.8%) of the non–working breastfeeding mothers. Majority (93.6%) of the working and majority (95.2%) of non –working breastfeeding mothers stated health workers advised to give only breast milk to the baby.

Conclusion:It was concluded that the knowledge of the working and nonworking breastfeeding mother was good. The breastfeeding practices were different in working and non–working breastfeeding mothers and some factors which act as a barrier during breastfeeding and affect the breastfeeding behavior of the working and non–working breastfeeding mothers..