Assessment of Health Practices of Food Vendors in the University of Benin

Abstract

This study assessed the health practices of food vendors in the University of Benin. Four research questions and one hypothesis were raised to guide the research. Literatures related to the study were reviewed. The study adopted a school-based descriptive cross-sectional research design and the population of the study comprised 144 food vendors within the University of Benin Ugbowo Campus. The census method was used to recruit respondents for the study. A self-structured checklist and questionnaire was used for the collection of data. The questionnaire was content validated and a reliability coefficient of 0.73 was obtained using the test re-test reliability method. Data obtained were analysed using descriptive statistics of frequency counts, percentages and inferential statistics of Chi-square. The findings revealed that majority of the food vendors in the University of Benin had good health practices as it relates to food safety and moderate level of knowledge of foodborne diseases. The result also showed a calculated chi-square value of 0.16 showing that there is no significant relationship in the observed health practices of food vendors by gender in the University of Benin. The study recommends among others the establishment of a recognition or certification system that acknowledges and rewards vendors who consistently demonstrate good food safety practices