Assessment of Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Food Safety and Hygiene Procedure among Rural and Urban Food Vendors in Oyo State, Nigeria

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DOI: 10.21522/TIJAR.2014.13.02.Art005

Authors : Olatunde Ademoye Falusi, Olaiya Paul Abiodun, Joy Ogechi Max-Ikechebelu, Aderemi Caleb Adegbenro

Abstract:

Foodborne diseases are a major global health problem that kills millions of people each year, especially in low- and middle-income countries. In Nigeria, food contamination due to improper handling and poor hygiene by street vendors is a major cause of diseases such as diarrhea and cholera. The objective of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) of food vendors in rural and urban areas of Oyo State, Nigeria, on food safety and hygiene practices. A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among 350 food vendors in Oyo State, selected using multistage sampling techniques. Data were collected using a pre-tested self-administered questionnaire designed based on objectives and analysed using an IBM SPSS version 25.0. Findings were presented using charts and tables and the level of significance was at p<0.05. The study results showed that 96.6% of urban vendors had good knowledge of food safety, while 70.3% of rural vendors had knowledge of food safety. However, urban vendors had a higher negative attitude toward food safety (57.7%) compare to rural vendors. In terms of practice, 86.9% of urban vendors adhered to good hygiene practices, while rural vendors had a higher compliance rate (95.4%). Factors such as education level and marital status were significantly associated with food safety knowledge and practices. Despite high levels of knowledge, urban vendors showed low attitudes and hygiene practices, indicating a gap between knowledge and implementation. Targeted interventions aimed at changing behaviour and improving hygiene practices are recommended to improve food safety, especially in urban area.

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