Abstract
Introduction. Animal sources of foods (ASF), including meat, are a source of high-quality nutrients. However, meat composition makes it an ideal medium for the growth of a good number of microorganisms. Around 600 million foodborne illnesses and 420000 deaths occur each year due to poor food handling practice. Thus, probing into meat handling practice will be an insatiable input for the intervention. This study aims to investigate the level of meat handling practice and associated factors among meat handlers in butcheries in Gondar town, Ethiopia. Method The study was a community-based cross-sectional study among butcher shops in Gondar town from April 20 to 30, 2019. Data were collected using a pretested structured questionnaire by trained data collectors among 214 meat handlers from butcher shops. Multivariable logistic regression analysis with a 95% confidence interval (CI) was used to identify the factors significantly associated with a good level of meat handling practice. Result More than half of the meat handlers 66.4% (95% CI: (59.8, 72.4)) in butcher shops had a good level of meat handling practice. Level of attitude (AOR = 4.45; 95% CI, 2.09–9.43) and knowledge (AOR = 2.04; 95% CI, 1.09–3.82) were significantly associated with a good level of meat handling practice. The majority of respondents wash their hands after disposing garbage (91.6%) with less vigilance after smoking, sneezing, or coughing (64.0%). Conclusion The study revealed that the level of food handling practice was unsatisfactory among meat handlers. This result is a testimony to the prevailing potential risk faced by consumers due to the disregarding of hygienic behaviors by food handlers. Considering attitude and knowledge are associated with the outcome variable, investing time on behavioral change activities that will contribute to the improvement of meat handler's attitude & practice, primarily focusing on reducing working while ill is essential. Therefore, much supervisory and coaching work will be expected from local health departments & regulatory bodies.
Highlights
Animal sources of foods (ASF), including meat, are a source of high-quality nutrients
Foodborne diseases have been increasing in recent years, with an enormous impact on the health and economy of developing countries than those of developed countries [7, 15]. e impediment of socioeconomic development has manifested this by straining the health-care system and harming national economies, tourism, and trade [16]
More than half the number of meat handlers in Gondar town had a good level of self-reported food safety practice
Summary
Animal sources of foods (ASF), including meat, are a source of high-quality nutrients. Around 600 million foodborne illnesses and 420000 deaths occur each year due to poor food handling practice. More than half of the meat handlers 66.4% (95% CI: (59.8, 72.4)) in butcher shops had a good level of meat handling practice. E study revealed that the level of food handling practice was unsatisfactory among meat handlers. Those from animals, are highly vulnerable to microbial contamination and food poisoning [1] Meat composition makes it an ideal medium for the growth of a good number of microorganisms [2] due to richness in nutrients [3]. Other reports depicted that around 600 million foodborne illnesses and 420,000 deaths occur each year due to poor food handling practice [11], in which substantial proportion goes to meat-. Foodborne diseases have been increasing in recent years, with an enormous impact on the health and economy of developing countries than those of developed countries [7, 15]. e impediment of socioeconomic development has manifested this by straining the health-care system and harming national economies, tourism, and trade [16]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 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.
