Factors associated with food safety practices among food handlers in Abuja municipal area council, Nigeria
Juliet Oluchi Uzoama, Heejin Kimm, Kennedy Diema Konlan
Abstract
Background: Food-borne diseases (FBD) are common public health problems experienced daily.Food safety practices are critical to public health in preventing and controlling the disease's spread.This study aimed to describe the factors associated with food safety practices among food handlers in Abuja Municipal Area Council of Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria.Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional design used a multistage sampling technique to select 288 food handlers from three wards in Abuja Municipal Area Council.Data was collected using a self-developed pre-tested questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive data analysis techniques.A univariate 2 test of the association through cross-tabulations and binary logistic regression analysis was used to identify the factors associated with the knowledge and practice of food handling in the area council.The statistically significant level was set at 0.05 level.Results: Food handlers had good knowledge (77.8%) and practice (92.1%) of food handling, and 62.5% had not done their medical check-up.The factors associated with food safety knowledge were the location of the Food Service Establishments (FSEs) and work experience.It was revealed that older food handlers: age, those who could not read or write; education status, the elite, and low-class environment; location of the FSEs, more than 4 years' work experience, and food safety training were significantly associated with food handlers having good practices of food safety.However, binary logistic regression analysis revealed the location of the FSEs as the factor associated with food safety practices. Conclusion:The overall knowledge of the food handlers translated to good food safety practices.Supervision and training were helpful to enhance their food safety practice.It is needed for relevant regulatory bodies to institute measures to ensure the enforcement of food handling laws to limit the risk of food contamination by food handlers.