KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE RELATED TO OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY AMONG TEXTILE MILLS WORKERS IN DERA ISMAIL KHAN

Background: Recent industrialization has exposed industrial workers to increasing occupational hazards. The objective of this survey was to determine the knowledge, attitude and practice of workers about occupational health. Material Methods: It was a Knowledge, Attitude and Practice survey, carried out in Tribal Textile Mills, Dera Ismail Khan, from October 24, 2012 to November 5, 2012. Fifty respondents were selected from 650 workers by convenience sampling. Research tool was a questionnaire based on a 5-point Likert Scale. Demographic variables were age in years, age group, residence and language. Research variables were knowledge, attitude and practice. The data were analyzed for frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation. Groupwise differences of knowledge, attitude and practice were determined by t-test and One-way ANOVA test and association among them by Pearson Correlation test. P value of 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Total respondents were 50 with no female worker. Young age group was dominating with a frequency of 44 (88%). The frequency of rural population was 26 (52%). Seraiki language was dominating with a frequency of 23 (46%). The difference of mean levels of knowledge, attitude and practice between the two age groups, two residence groups and three language groups were all statistically non significant. The correlations in between the knowledge, attitude and practice were all positively statistically significant. Conclusion: The effects of demographics are not significant on the level of knowledge, attitude and practice regarding occupational health and Safety among textile factory workers