Abstract
Objectives:This study was aimed to assess the food hygiene practice and associated factors among food handlers working in food establishments during the COVID-19 pandemic in East Gojjam and West Gojjam Zones, North West Ethiopia.Methods:A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 845 food handlers working in 423 selected food establishments of East and West Gojjam Zones from 22 September to 2 November 2020. The food handlers were categorized as a cooker and a waiter based on their responsibility. A data collection tool was adapted from the literature and validated by conducting a pre-test prior to the study. Binary logistic regression was done to identify the factors associated with food hygiene practice among food handlers.Results:The prevalence of poor food hygiene practices among food handlers working in food establishments was 51.2% (95% confidence interval = 47.8, 54.6%). Being both a cooker and waiter (adjusted odds ratio = 2.98; 95% confidence interval = 1.02, 8.66), availability of personal protective equipment (adjusted odds ratio = 2.67; 95% confidence interval = 1.75, 4.08), presence of pipe water in the kitchen (adjusted odds ratio = 2.73; 95% confidence interval = 1.84, 4.06), presence of a supervisor (adjusted odds ratio = 2.26; 95% confidence interval = 1.41, 3.62), and separate dressing room (adjusted odds ratio = 2.69; 95% confidence interval = 1.84, 3.93) were significantly associated with food hygiene practice among food handlers.Conclusion:The prevalence of poor food hygiene practices among food handlers working in food establishments during the COVID-19 pandemic was high. Therefore, improving food hygiene practice focusing on availing personal protective equipment, pipe water in the kitchen, and ensuring the presence of a supervisor as well as a separate dressing room in the food establishment is recommended.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
