KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE, AND PRACTICES REGARDING POLYTHENE BAG USAGE AMONG THE RESIDENTS OF PUNJAB WITH A VIEW TO DEVELOP AN INFORMATION BOOKLET ON ITS ILL EFFECTS

Abstract

Background: Now-a-days, the management of plastic waste and pollution of polythene bags
are more challenging issue. Non-compostable polythene bags can take up to thousand years to
decompose. Improper waste disposal and polythene bags may severely endangered public
health and the environment. In order to reduce plastic pollution, awareness is most important.
As awareness improve the knowledge and change the attitude of people towards polythene bag
usage and also reduces their practices of using polythene bags.
Objective: To assess the knowledge, attitude and practices regarding polythene bag usage
among the residents of Punjab and to develop and distribute an information booklet on its ill
effect.
Methodology: A Quantitative non-experimental, descriptive research approach and design
were used to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practices regarding the usage of polythene
bags among 150 residents of a selected village of district Sri Muktsar Sahib, Punjab by using
self-structured questionnaires using a purposive sampling technique.
Results: The collected data was analyzed through descriptive and inferential statistics which
revealed that out of 150 residents, 40.67% have excellent 32%have good, 22% average and
5.33% have below average level of knowledge regarding polythene bag usage. Majority of
residents i.e., 74% have favorable attitude means in the favor of not using polythene bags and
26% have neutral attitude and on other hand regarding practices, 4% residents have good,
54.66% have an average and 41.33% have below average practice regarding polythene bag
usage. The correlation coefficient value for knowledge and attitude comes out +1, which
indicates a positive relationship, and attitude and practice comes out -1 which indicates a
negative relationship, which all resulted in unfavorable & very less usage of polythene bags by
the public in the present scenario.
Conclusion: The general population has excellent level of knowledge, a favorable attitude, and
very average practices regarding polythene bag usage.