Knowledge, attitude and practice towards healthy diet and their determinants among readymade garment workers in Bangladesh: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to examine the knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) related to a healthy diet and explore the associations between the KAP and sociodemographic variables among readymade garment (RMG) workers in Bangladesh.

DESIGN

A secondary analysis of cross-sectional data.

SETTINGS

Two garment industries in Dhaka and Mymensingh.

PARTICIPANTS

801 RMG workers.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES

The knowledge level was assessed using eight questions aimed at exploring the workers' knowledge of healthy diets. 16 statements were used to assess attitude towards a healthy diet, which could be answered on a 5-point Likert scale. A 7-day food frequency questionnaire with foods arranged into eight food groups was used to assess healthy dietary practices. The KAP score was categorised as poor (within 0%-50% of the maximum possible score), fair (within 51%-75% of the maximum possible score) and good (above 75% of the maximum possible score).

RESULTS

Overall, 39%, 18.2% and 42% of the workers had good KAP related to a healthy diet, respectively. Milk and fruit consumption frequency was low among the workers. The KAP score was significantly higher among workers with higher educational levels (p<0.001) and higher-income groups (p<0.01). Moreover, a significantly higher KAP score was found among the workers who used the internet (p<0.001) and watched television programmes (p=0.044).

CONCLUSIONS

Programmes on nutrition education at the factory and community levels and broadcasting nutrition-related programmes on television and the internet for garment workers could be effective in augmenting their KAP towards healthy diets.