Assessment of sanitary and hygienic status of catering establishments of Awassa Town

Abstract

A cross-sectional survey was conducted to assess the sanitary status and hygienic practices of catering business establishments in Awassa Town, Southern Ethiopia, February to April 1996. Data were collected using standardized questionnaires, free listings, parasitological and bacteriological laboratory analyses. A total of 164 catering establishments were identified and investigated. They had about 1023 workers with daily customer services of about 14,965. Water was found to be available in most (89.7%) of the establishments and sanitation coverage (defined as the presence of latrine) was 98%. The overall prevalence of intestinal parasites among food handlers was 63%, with Giardia Lamblia (33.3%), Entamoeba histolytica (21.5%), Ascaris lumbricoid (18.2%) and hookworm species (10.8%). The water supply and sewerage authority (WSSA) water supply was found to be bacteriologically potable. Inadequate follow-up of catering establishments, absence of optimum standard procedures and guidelines for business operation, poor regular refurbishment practice, inappropriate liquid and solid waste disposal system, and poor personal hygiene of food handlers were the major findings. Multi-lateral and inter-sectoral collaboration and cooperation is mandatory to design the rapidly growing urbanization and industrialization of the Town by involving municipalities, the local administrative council, the health sector, owners of the establishments and the community to work together and comply with the optimum standards and procedures. Recommendations are forwarded to ensure customer expectations, needs, and demands. (Ethiopian Journal of Health Development: 2000, 14(1): 91-98)