Introduction: Effective domestic waste management is crucial for maintaining public health, preventing environmental pollution, and conserving natural resources. Homemakers play a vital role in managing household waste, as they are primarily responsible for waste generation and disposal decisions. However, inadequate knowledge and awareness about proper waste management practices among homemakers can lead to inefficient waste disposal, contributing to environmental degradation and health risks. This study investigates homemakers' knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding waste management in rural areas. The results highlight the need for targeted education and awareness campaigns to improve waste management practices among homemakers. This study contributes to the development of evidence-based strategies for enhancing domestic waste management and promoting sustainable practices.

Objectives: To assess the level of knowledge in homemakers regarding domestic waste management and its effect on health and environment as measured by structured knowledge questionnaire. To find the association between knowledge score on domestic waste management and its effect on health and environment among homemakers with their selected baseline variables

Methodology: A descriptive method was used for this study. Purposive sampling technique was used to select 60 homemakers. This study was carried out in the rural areas of Mangaluru district. Data was collected by administering the structured knowledge questionnaire. Data was analyzed by using descriptive and inferential statistics (mean, standard deviation, chi-square test).

Results: The findings of the study indicated that 88.3%of homemakers are having good knowledge and 11.7% of homemakers are having average knowledge regarding domestic waste management and its effect on health and environment. There was no significant association between knowledge score and selected baseline variables (age, religion, family type, income, place of residence, type of waste generation, and frequency of waste collection). The obtained values in these areas were lower than the table value.