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.