Assessment, Monitoring, and Awareness of Garment Workers Regarding the Prevalence of Tuberculosis in Savar, Dhaka

The study was conducted to assess the awareness regarding Tuberculosis (TB) among the garment workers in Savar, Dhaka. Data were collected by face to face interview using a semi-structured questionnaire. A total of 110 garment workers were interviewed, among them, 51.8% were male and rests of 48.2% were female. Maximum 30.9% respondent's age was between 20-22 years and 28.2% respondent's ages were more than 28 years. 58.2% of respondents had secondary education, 22.7% of respondents had primary education and 14.5% respondents had HSC and above education. Out of 110 respondents, 60.0% were lived in a nuclear family, 39.1% were lived in a joint family, and 34.5 % were at own house, 3.6 % were at slum and 57.3% were at the colony. The majority had heard about TB (72.7%) by listening to Television, Radio, Newspaper, and 27.3% were family member, office, doctors or hospitals. only 25.5% perceived it to be an infectious disease, (30.0%) were did not perceive and highest number 44.5 % were didn't know. The correct mode of transmission i.e. airborne (coughing/sneezing) was known to 66.7% study subjects. The majority (62.4%) knew cough as a symptom. Maximum (71.8%) respondents thought TB to be a preventable disease, among them majority (52.0 %) were of the opinion to prevent the TB by a cover on the mouth at coughing, 8.1% were said BCG (Bacillus Calmette-Gurin) vaccination and 35.8 % was no smoking. Most of the respondent's (96.4%) said TB is a treatable disease, among them, 75.5% said by Anti TB antibiotics. 62.7% of respondents knew TB is a completely curable disease. This study shows (74.5%) garments workers have poor awareness and (25.5%) have good awareness.