Natasha Shaukat
Aga Khan University, Pakistan
Title: Knowledge, attitude and practices regarding cotton dust exposure among textile workers in Karachi, Pakistan – Findings from the multitex study
Biography
Biography: Natasha Shaukat
Abstract
Methods: This cross-sectional study involving 300 male workers, from seven textile mills in Karachi, was conducted from September–December 2015. A 55-item structured questionnaire was developed and pretested, to determine knowledge (31 items), attitude (10 items) and practice (14 items) scores. Independent sample t-test and ANOVA tests were applied to calculate mean differences in KAP scores for categorical variables; while Pearson correlation was used for continuous variables.
Results: Mean age of the participants was 31(±9.5) years with majority belonging to Urdu-speaking ethnicity (39%; n=118). About 90% (n=269) of the workers had secondary or less education. Mean percentage scores for KAP was found to be (33.3%), (32%), and (20.4%) for K, A, P respectively. Higher educational status, dyeing and spinning sections of the mill and type of mill were found to be strong predictors of high KAP scores (p<0.01). We also found significant differences in KAP scores related to job designation and ethnicity (p<0.01). The increase in working hours per day (r=-0.18 for K, -0.14 for A, and -0.27 for P; and p<0.01) and working days per week (r= -0.13 for K, -0.14 for A and -0.09 for P; and p<0.05) were negatively associated with the KAP scores.
Conclusion: We found higher KAP scores with better education and those working in dyeing or spinning section. However, increased working hours and days per week had a negative effect on KAP scores. This study documents the poor KAP of textile workers and calls for provision of occupational health and safety trainings.