scholarly journals Knowledge and personal hygiene practice among food handlers in public university campus of Bangladesh

Author(s):  
A. H. M. Shamim Al Mamun ◽  
Kamrul Hsan ◽  
Md. Shanjid Sarwar ◽  
Md. Ruhul Furkan Siddique

Background: Millions of people are suffering from food borne illness and it has become a growing public health concern in the world. To reduce the burden of food borne illness, food handlers must have accurate knowledge of food safety. The objective of the study was to assess the knowledge and level of personal hygiene practice among food handlers of Jahangirnagar University.Methods: It was a descriptive cross sectional study, done among the food handlers in Jahangirngar University Campus, Dhaka, Bangladesh from May 2016 to September 2016. Data were collected from 119 food handlers by using face to face interview using a pre-tested questionnaire. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS 22.0) software was used for data analysis.Results: Study found that 65.55% of the food handlers did not have adequate knowledge regarding personal hygiene. The study also found that 71.4% of the food handlers had poor hygiene practice. The study revealed that age, education and sleeping place and knowledge regarding personal hygiene were significantly associated with the respondent’s personal hygiene practice.Conclusions: The study shows that knowledge and its practice among the food handlers is very poor. Implementation of training and awareness program on personal hygiene are required to improve their knowledge and personal hygiene practice.

Author(s):  
Mohammed Shareef P. M. ◽  
R. Prabhankumar ◽  
Manikandam M. ◽  
Anil J. Purty

Background: Food handlers play an important role in ensuring food safety throughout the chain of production, processing, storage and preparation. Mishandling and disregard of hygienic measures by food handlers may lead to food contamination and cause illness among the consumers. This study was undertaken to determine the knowledge, attitude and practice towards food-borne diseases and personal hygiene among food handlers in a tertiary care hospital and to assess their morbidity status.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among the food handlers working in the food establishments within the campus of Pondicherry Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), Puducherry. Total 51 food handlers consented and participated. Participants were explained about the purpose of study and written informed consent was obtained. Data was collected using a pre-tested pre-validated questionnaire. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 17.0. Institutional ethics committee approval was obtained for the study.Results: Overall the average score for knowledge, attitude and practices was good among the food handlers. There was statistically significant association between the lesser attitude & practice scores and the history of gastrointestinal morbidity among the participants. There was positive correlation between the years of work experience and the mean knowledge, attitude and practice scores.Conclusions: Although knowledge, attitude and practices of the food handlers working in the tertiary care hospital was good but periodic health education and awareness will contribute in maintaining and reinforcing the existing knowledge and practices so as to prevent any food contamination and potential outbreak of food borne illness.  


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Morrison Asiamah ◽  
Kwadwo Owusu Akuffo ◽  
Pricillia Nortey ◽  
Nina Donkor ◽  
Anthony Danso-Appiah

Abstract Background: Spontaneous reporting of adverse drug reactions (ADR) is an effective means of ensuring postmarketing surveillance of drugs, and health professionals play a cardinal role through voluntary reporting of ADR. However, the pharmacovigilance system in Ghana is plagued with under-reporting issues, which is of public health concern. Method: A questionnaire-based cross-sectional study involving 268 health professionals at Kpone-Katamanso District was carried out. Data on spontaneous reporting of ADR, demographics of participants, knowledge, and attitudes of professionals towards reporting and factors that may influence ADR reporting were collected. Logistic regression models were used to examine the association of the independent variables with spontaneous reporting of ADR.Result: Overall, 77.6% (208) of the 268 respondents had witnessed ADR; however, only 17.3% of the respondents have ever reported an ADR to the FDA. Health professionals who had adequate knowledge on spontaneous reporting of ADR were 51.9%, while 30.3% had very good knowledge of spontaneous reporting of ADR. After statistical adjustment, Age (AOR=2.26, 95%CI= 1.25–4.10), Fear of Legal Consequences (AOR=0.15, 95%CI=0.41–0.51), Time Constraint (AOR=0.3, 95%CI=0.10–0.91), Pharmacovigilance training (AOR= 18.78, 95%CI= 5.46–64.59) and Unavailability of Reporting form (AOR=0.28, 95%CI=0.09– 0.88) were found to be significantly associated spontaneous reporting of ADR. Conclusion: The proportion of health professionals in the Kpone-Katamanso District who spontaneously report observed ADR is low. Our findings underscore the need for the FDA to intensify awareness through media sensitization and engage all relevant stakeholders on the need for the entire population to report ADR.


Author(s):  
Asifa Ashraf ◽  
Ipseeta Menon ◽  
Ritu Gupta ◽  
Vikram Arora ◽  
Dipshikha Das ◽  
...  

Background and Objectives: Covid-19 is highly contagious disease and has today become a major public health concern in the developing countries worldwide. This study attempted to assess the knowledge, attitude, anxiety experience, perceived mental healthcare, and oral health among adult Kashmiri population during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: An anonymous online questionnaire was developed using Google forms to avoid person-to-person contact. The structured questionnaire consisted of questions covering several areas: sociodemographic data, knowledge, awareness, attitude about the COVID-19 , the anxiety level, oral hygiene habits during confinement, care and disinfection control behaviours in the dental environment. Results: Due to continuing conflict in Kashmir during the last 18 years there has been a phenomenal increase in psychiatric morbidity. The results reveal that the prevalence of depression was high 46.3% among Kashmiri residents who were anxious with the thought of  COVID-19 virus. In our study it was also found that 66.2% of the responders had a moderate level of knowledge about being getting quarantined and 97.7% of the participants had an adequate knowledge about its preventive aspects. The anxiety levels identified in the study were high i.e. more than 70% of the participants were preoccupied with the COVID-19 pandemic over the past months. Approximately, 42.6% of the participants have been angered and distressed due to being worried about the ongoing pandemic. Oral hygiene and last visit to the dentist were found highly significant in our study i.e. approximately  36.6% of the participants had visited a dentist among which 35.2% had visited only due to consultation advise. Conclusion: Population of Kashmir had a better mean knowledge score regarding this virus but yet mental health is an integral part of overall health and quality of life. Substantial and sustainable improvements can be achieved only when a comprehensive strategy for mental health which incorporates both prevention and care elements is adopted. There is a need to intensify the awareness and address the mental health issues, and importance of oral hygiene of people during this COVID-19 pandemic.


2018 ◽  
Vol 120 (3) ◽  
pp. 518-530 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hussein F. Hassan ◽  
Hani Dimassi ◽  
Zeina Nakat Karam

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to assess level of food safety knowledge and self-reported practices among Lebanese food handlers in Lebanese households and to identify the association between knowledge/practices and socio-demographic characteristics. Design/methodology/approach A cross-sectional study was conducted among 1,500 participants from different gender, age, area of residence, income, marital status and education. They completed a questionnaire of six questions about demographics, and 26 questions related to knowledge and self-reported practices in terms of food handling, storage, usage of kitchen facilities and personal hygiene subgroups. SPSS v23 was used for statistical analyses. Student t-test and analysis of variance were conducted. Significance level of 0.05 was used. Findings On average, participants scored 55.6±16.3, 51.3±25.7, 67.4±19.3 and 89.1±16.3 on food handling, storage, usage of kitchen facilities and personal hygiene, respectively, whereas the passing (score above 50 percent) rates were 64.5, 69.9, 90.5 and 99.1, respectively, for the different subgroups. Gender had significant (p<0.05) effect on food handling and personal hygiene; age, marital status and education had significant (p<0.05) effect on handling, usage of kitchen facilities and personal hygiene; area of residence had significant (p<0.05) effect on storage, handling and usage of kitchen facilities; income had significant (p<0.05) effect on handling and usage of kitchen facilities. Overall mean food safety knowledge and self-reported practices score was 63.8±12.6; passing rate was 86.2; gender, age, area of residence, education, marital status and income had significant (p<0.05) effect. Food safety self-reported practices and knowledge scores were significantly (p<0.001) related to a weak to moderate correlation coefficient (R=0.34). Practical implications The results confirm the need for ongoing educational initiatives to improve the relatively low food safety knowledge and practices among the Lebanese food handlers in Lebanese households. Originality/value No study has determined the food safety knowledge and self-reported practices of Lebanese food handlers in Lebanese households before.


2013 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 23-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jayant D Deshpande ◽  
Deepak B Phalke

Background: Foodborne disease occurs in mass catering establishment that is not complying with sanitary and hygienic food handling and preparation. Objective: Objective of the present study was to explore the status of sanitary condition of food establishments and to assess hygienic practices among food handlers. Material and Method: A cross-sectional study design was used to assess the sanitary condition of food establishments and personal hygiene of food handlers. Data was collected with the help of structured and pre-tested questionnaires. The questionnaire also allowed the interviewers to record their observations. All the data obtained was entered into Microsoft Excel and analyzed using the software StatistiXL version 1.8. Result: Separate kitchen and Onsite solid waste storage containers/receptacles were available in 4(16%) establishments. Provision for heating devices for cooked food was available in 5(20%) establishments. Wash basin present with soap were available in 10 (40%) of the food establishments. Sweeping and washing floor with water and disinfectant was done in 8(32%) food establishments. Male and female food handlers’ have equal percentage of morbidity and this difference was not statistically significant (χ2=0.0329, p=0.84), but anaemia was significantly higher among female food handlers (χ2=6.30, p=0.01). Poor hygienic practices were significantly associated with presence of infectious diseases like ARI, diarrhoea, dysentery and skin infections. (χ2=5.71, p=0.017). Conclusion: Food establishments in the study area were found to have poor sanitation and were not maintained well. The health status and the level of personal hygiene of the food handlers in the eating establishments were found to be unsatisfactory. There is need of enforcement of sanitary provisions and educating the food handlers about personal hygiene.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ajms.v4i2.7895 Asian Journal of Medical Sciences 4(2013) 23-29


2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-68
Author(s):  
Muhammad Anwarul Hoque ◽  
Nazmin Rahman ◽  
Mohammad Khalid Mahmud

Introduction: Food safety is a key public health concern. Food handlers play an important role in ensuring food safety throughout the chain of preparation, storage and serving. Aim: To assess the food safety practice level among the food handlers of selected unit messes in Dhaka Cantonment. Methods: This descriptive cross sectional study was conducted among the food handlers of selected unit messes in Dhaka Cantonment from January 2013 to December 2013. A total of 133 food handlers were selected following convenient sampling technique. Data were collected by face to face interview using a predesigned semi-structured questionnaire and check list. All completed questionnaires were validated manually and data were analyzed with Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) verson 15.0 by using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: In this study, the food handlers had a mean age of 32.94 years; all were male and Muslim. Regarding educational qualification, majority (42.9%) were between class VI to X and 80.5% were married. The mean monthly income of the participants was taka 17,115.8 and 53.4% belonged to nuclear family. Majority (65.4%) of the participants were cook and 39.8% had family members between 4-5 persons. It was found that out of all food handlers 12% had good, 78.9% had average and 9.0% had poor food safety practice status. Descriptive statistics revealed that occupation, education and marital status played a major role for food safety practice level. Conclusion: Efforts need to be taken to improve the awareness among the food handlers. Safety practices and further studies are recommended on determinants of non-compliance to safety practices by the food handlers. JAFMC Bangladesh. Vol 15, No 1 (June) 2020: 65-68


2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 7
Author(s):  
Ardini Debilauralita Nuraya ◽  
Triska Susila Nindya

Pathogenic effect of Escherichia coli bacteria could be detrimental to health. The presence of the bacteria makes food unsafe to consumed. Personal hygiene practice of sellers can infl uence the presence of Escherichia coli on food. This cross-sectional study was aimed to analyze the relationship between personal hygiene practice of sellers with the presence of Escherichia coli bacteria on a traditional layer cake. The study involved 29 traditional layer cake sellers inPasar Kembang Surabaya. The data collection was done by using observation sheet and laboratory tests on samples of traditional layer cakes. Data was analyzed using chi-square statistical test. The results of this study showed the majority of sellers washed their hands before handling food (96.6%), fingernails were clean and short (86.2%) and didn’t smoke when handling food (82.8%). All sellers used clean clothes (100%), but talked when handling food (100%), did not wear an apron and tools when handling food (100%). Escherichia coli was found in 44.8% samples. This study showed there was no relationship between personal hygiene practices of sellers with the presence of Escherichia coli bacteria in traditional layer cakes (p > 0.05) in Pasar Kembang.


Author(s):  
Csaba Bálint Illés ◽  
Anna Dunay ◽  
Charlotte Serrem ◽  
Bridget Atubukha ◽  
Kevin Serrem

The ability to combat food-borne illnesses in food facilities and institutional catering units require sufficient knowledge on food safety and sanitation standards by food producers and consumers. The aim of the study was to investigate the food safety and sanitation knowledge of food handlers in Kenyan high schools. A cross-sectional study was carried out among 204 food handlers in 50 schools. Questions about knowledge and practice toward food safety and sanitation were asked. Respondents were the most knowledgeable on food contamination (93%), while participants were the least knowledgeable on the importance of protective attire when distributing foods to learners (50%). One-way ANOVA revealed a significant difference between gender and food handlers’ behavior and practice (F = 19.886, ρ = 0.00 < 0.05) as well as between job tenure and practice of food safety and sanitation (F = 17.874, ρ = 0.00 < 0.05). Multiple regression analysis established that knowledge contributed to 44.1% of the behavior and practice of the food handlers. It is concluded that food handlers have a fair knowledge despite lack of training, motivation, and facilities to maintain quality standards. It is recommended that the Kenyan Government develop and implement guidelines through school feeding policy that would ensure that food safety and sanitation practices are implemented and utilized by Kenyan high schools.


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