Abstract
Fish consumption is a lifestyle in fishing communities influenced by individual and communal perceptions. However, information about individual perceptions about fish consumption in the vulnerable fishing community in a developing country is lacking. Without this study, the benefits of fish consumption in a vulnerable community may not be realized. Data collection was executed using key informant interviews and survey structured questionnaires. The key informants include fisheries, community development, veterinary, community and environmental officers. The household heads were the respondents. The Qualitative data was organized and queried using QSR Nvivo 10 and quantitative data analyzed with SPSS version 22. The perceived benefits of eating fish are health, income, nutrition and manhood. The perceived risks are Stigma and ill health. The factors increasing fish consumption are heedless of fish consumption benefits (p = 0.041) and household size i.e. number of adults more than seven (p = 0.020). Those decreasing are methods of preparation of fish i.e. boiling and frying (p = 0.019 and p = 0.010) and oblivious about organizations dealing with fishing activities (p = 0.029). An awareness campaign is needed to demystify the health benefits and fallacies of fish consumption. The knowledge on individual perceptions associated with fish consumption will increase fish consumption but with fewer risks.
Highlights
Fish consumption has negative and positive consequences in the indigenous population and in pregnant women, children and adults as documented by Power, Klein, Guiguer, and Kwan (2002)
The major risk associated with fish consumption is that of heavy metals uptake especially mercury and lead (Petre, Sackett, & Aday, 2012)
The study took place in a vulnerable fishing community of a developing country and looked at the individual perceptions associated with fish consumption
Summary
Fish consumption has negative and positive consequences in the indigenous population and in pregnant women, children and adults as documented by Power, Klein, Guiguer, and Kwan (2002). Increased fish consumption is associated with uptake of contaminated fish (Teisl, Fromberg, Smith, Boyle, & Engelberth, 2011). The major risk associated with fish consumption is that of heavy metals uptake especially mercury and lead (Petre, Sackett, & Aday, 2012). To counteract the heavy metal consequences, governments worldwide institute fish consumption advisories (Burger & Gochfeld, 2008; Engelberth et al, 2013; Teisl et al, 2011). The fish consumption advisories create awareness about the risks and benefits associated with fish consumption (Burger & Gochfeld, 2008). The message disseminated to communities focuses on the direct and indirect effects of the guidelines (Burger, 2000; Carvalho, Matos, Mateus, Santos, & Batoréu, 2008; Mariën & Patrick, 2001; Oken et al, 2012; Wheatley & Wheatley, 2000). While the direct effects target the consequences, choice of interventions and target group
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