Knowledge and Behaviors of Mothers about Food Safety in a Selected Villages at Minia City

Abstract

Background: Safe food is one of the most important human rights, due to the changes in food production, handling and preparation techniques as well as eating habits, the fact remains that food is the source for microorganisms that can cause illness, and improving the feeding knowledge of households is a way to improve household food security. Aim : The study aimed to assess knowledge and behaviors of mothers about food safety at a Selected Villages in Minia City. Research Design: Descriptive cross-sectional research design. Setting: The study was carried out at Minia villages are (Bani-Ahmed, Maqousa, Sawada and Alborgaya). Sample: A purposive sample of 240 mothers. Tools of Data Collection: Three tools were designed Tool І: Interviewing structured questionnaire, Tool ІІ: questionnaire of mothers’ knowledge about food it includes two parts: Part (1): General knowledge about food Part (2): questionnaire of knowledge about food safety, Tool ІII Assessment of behaviors about food safety questionnaire. Results: Current study findings revealed that (50%) of the studied mothers were illiterate, and (90%) are not enrolled in any training, lectures or seminars about food safety (57.9%) of them have poor knowledge level and (37.5%) have satisfactory behavioral level and (55.4%) reported poor behavior. There was a statistical significant relation between total level of behavior and number of family members (p-value =0.021). Conclusion: Impairment in the knowledge and behaviors of mothers about food safety. Recommendations: Nurses should emphasis to provide an educational program tailored to each mother in the community about food and healthcare organizations must develop a dedicated funding plan that supports health education about healthy food and food borne illness.