Neonatal mortality is 27% higher in developed countries. Odisha accounts for high neonatal mortality and morbidity, major reason being, a disparity in newborn-care practices in urban slum and non-slum population. The study was done with objectives: to study the newborn care practices among mothers, to assess their knowledge regarding newborn-care and to find differences between newborn-care practices between the slum and non-slum population. A cross-sectional study was done among mothers with infants less than 6 months, from August to October 2015, using a semi- structured proforma. 134 eligible mothers at Immunisation clinic, KIMS and 110 at UHTC. Majority of non-slum (65.00%) and slum mothers (51.70%) were between 20-24 years of age and were literates (92.54 and 80%, respectively). Majority of the mothers gave prelacteal& discarded the colostrum. Inappropriate practices were prevalent both in slum as well as non-slum. Elder’s advice had an important influence on the newborn-care practices.
