Knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding respiratory PPE
| N (%) | Total | Current respiratory PPE use | No respiratory PPE use | P value |
| Participants | 83 | 24 | 59 | |
| Knowledge | ||||
| Knew that wearing respiratory PPE provides protection from brick kiln dust | 73 (88.0) | 20 (83.3) | 53 (89.8) | 0.47 |
| Knew where to get respiratory PPE | 80 (96.4) | 23 (95.8) | 57 (96.6) | 1 |
| Knew how to select the right type of respiratory PPE (self-reported) | 73 (88.0) | 23 (95.8) | 50 (84.7) | 0.27 |
| Knew how to wear respiratory PPE properly | 80 (96.4) | 24 (100.0) | 56 (94.9) | 0.55 |
| Identified N95 as best respiratory PPE for preventing brick kiln dust exposure | 20 (24.1) | 6 (25.0) | 14 (23.7) | 0.15 |
| Attitudes | ||||
| Willing to wear the following respiratory PPE type at work | ||||
| Cloth/scarf | 21 (25.3) | 7 (29.2) | 14 (23.7) | 0.81 |
| Surgical mask | 50 (60.2) | 15 (62.5) | 35 (59.3) | 0.98 |
| N95 | 12 (14.5) | 3 (12.5) | 9 (15.3) | 1 |
| None | 1 (1.2) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (1.7) | 1 |
| Believe that respiratory PPE are too expensive to buy | 28 (33.7) | 6 (25.0) | 22 (37.3) | 0.41 |
| Believe respiratory PPE are uncomfortable to wear | 27 (32.5) | 3 (12.5) | 24 (40.7) | 0.02 |
| Believe respiratory PPE slow down work efficiency | 30 (36.1) | 7 (29.2) | 23 (39.0) | 0.55 |
| Believe wearing respiratory PPE looks weird | 18 (21.7) | 4 (16.7) | 14 (23.7) | 0.57 |
| Would only wear respiratory PPE if required by law | 58 (69.9) | 16 (66.7) | 42 (71.2) | 0.89 |
| Would wear respiratory PPE if available at work free of charge | 77 (92.8) | 23 (95.8) | 54 (91.5) | 0.67 |
| Would wear respiratory PPE if had to purchase | 61 (73.5) | 22 (91.7) | 39 (66.1) | 0.03 |
| Amount willing to pay daily for respiratory PPE (NPR), mean±SD | 12.0 (12.5) | 14.5 (15.5) | 11.0 (11.1) | 0.47 |
| Practices | ||||
| Respiratory PPE available to wear at brick kilns in the past | 19 (22.9) | 12 (50.0) | 7 (11.9) | <0.01 |
| Currently wear respiratory PPE while working at the brick kiln | 24 (28.9) | 24 (100.0) | 0 (0.0) | NA |
| Have looked for respiratory PPE | 62 (74.7) | 24 (100.0) | 38 (64.4) | <0.001 |
| Able to find respiratory PPE | 79 (95.2) | 24 (100.0) | 55 (93.2) | 0.32 |
| Forget to wear respiratory PPE | 15 (18.1) | 4 (16.7) | 11 (18.6) | 1 |
| Factors encouraging respiratory PPE use | ||||
| Knowledge about the health effects of brick kiln dust | 79 (95.2) | 24 (100.0) | 55 (93.2) | 0.32 |
| Training on how to wear respiratory PPE properly | 66 (79.5) | 23 (95.8) | 43 (72.9) | 0.02 |
| Respiratory PPE are supplied at workplace | 76 (91.6) | 24 (100.0) | 52 (88.1) | 0.10 |
| Reminders at workplace to wear respiratory PPE | 67 (80.7) | 24 (100.0) | 43 (72.9) | <0.01 |
| Co-workers are wearing respiratory PPE | 62 (74.7) | 20 (83.3) | 42 (71.2) | 0.28 |
| Respiratory PPE is comfortable to wear | 77 (92.8) | 23 (95.8) | 54 (91.5) | 0.67 |
| Respiratory PPE does not interfere with work efficiency | 73 (88.0) | 21 (87.5) | 52 (88.1) | 1 |
P values in bold are statistically significant at the 0.05 level.
NPR, Nepalese rupees; PPE, personal protective equipment.