Table 2. Knowledge and practices of respiratory hygiene and sputum disposal practices followed by the study participants according to socioeconomic class.
* Multiple responses - total does not add to 100%. Fischer's exact test. A p-value of less than 0.05 is considered significant.
| Knowledge and practices of respiratory hygiene & sputum disposal practices | ||||
| Socio-economic status | ||||
| Middle class and below | Above middle class | Total | P-value | |
| n (%) | n (%) | n (%) | ||
| Practices | ||||
| 1) Do you cover your nose and mouth while coughing/sneezing/blowing your nose? | ||||
| Yes | 29 (53.7) | 25 (96.2) | 54 (67.5) | <0.001 |
| No | 25 (46.3) | 1 (3.8) | 26 (32.5) | |
| Total | 54 (100.0) | 26 (100.0) | 80 (100.0) | |
| 2) If the answer is yes, after that, do you wash your hands? | ||||
| Yes | 8 (33.3) | 20 (66.7) | 28 (51.9) | 0.015 |
| No | 16 (66.7) | 10 (33.3) | 26 (48.1) | |
| Total | 24 (100.0) | 30 (100.0) | 54 (100.0) | |
| Knowledge | ||||
| 3) The minimum time needed for handwashing after applying soap and water is: | ||||
| Less than 20 seconds | 20 (37.0) | 8 (30.8) | 28 (35.0) | 0.582 |
| More than 20 seconds | 34 (63.0) | 18 (69.2) | 52 (65.0) | |
| Total | 54 (100.0) | 26 (100.0) | 80 (100.0) | |
| Attitudes | ||||
| 4) What practices should ideally be followed to prevent the spread of respiratory secretions? | ||||
| Coughing/sneezing on a disposable napkin/cloth handkerchief/hands and washing hands | 29 (36.2) | 22 (27.5) | 51 (63.7) | <0.001 |
| Keeping a distance from others while coughing/sneezing | 4 (5.0) | 10 (12.5) | 14 (17.5) | |
| Covering the nose and mouth with hands and wiping hands on clothes after coughing/sneezing | 13 (16.2) | 4 (5.0) | 17 (21.2) | |
| Do not know | 13 (16.3) | 1 (1.3) | 14 (17.6) | |
| (* Multiple responses - total does not add to 100%) | ||||
| 5) What practices should ideally be followed to dispose of the sputum of tuberculosis patients? | ||||
| Disposing of in the dustbin | 7 (8.8) | 13 (16.3) | 20 (25.1) | 0.020 |
| Disposing of in a container with lime and ash | 1 (1.3) | 7 (8.7) | 8 (10.0) | |
| Pouring boiled water into the container | 0 (0.0) | 1 (1.3) | 1 (1.3) | |
| Disposing of in a container with an antiseptic solution | 1 (1.3) | 2 (2.5) | 3 (3.8) | |
| Disposal in gutter/flushing in the washbasin | 31 (38.7) | 13 (16.3) | 44 (55.0) | |
| Dumping in the ground | 1 (1.3) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (1.3) | |
| Do not know | 17 (21.3) | 3 (3.8) | 20 (25.1) | |