Knowledge, Attitude, and Food Safety Practices among Street Food Vendors at a Metropolitan District in Ghana: A Cross-sectional Study

Background. Street food is a vital component of cities and towns in developing countries. However, food poisoning has been associated with inadequate knowledge of food safety practices and inappropriate food handling. We examined the knowledge, attitude, and practices of street food sellers in the T...

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Main Authors: Abraham Norman Nortey, Hubert Amu, Ebenezer Senu, Alfred Effah
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2024-01-01
Series:International Journal of Food Science
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2024/5553942
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author Abraham Norman Nortey
Hubert Amu
Ebenezer Senu
Alfred Effah
author_facet Abraham Norman Nortey
Hubert Amu
Ebenezer Senu
Alfred Effah
author_sort Abraham Norman Nortey
collection DOAJ
description Background. Street food is a vital component of cities and towns in developing countries. However, food poisoning has been associated with inadequate knowledge of food safety practices and inappropriate food handling. We examined the knowledge, attitude, and practices of street food sellers in the Takoradi Submetropolis, Ghana, on food safety and hygienic practice. Method. In this descriptive cross-sectional study, 406 street food vendors were recruited based on a simple random sampling technique from the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis, Ghana, using a structured questionnaire. Data collected were analyzed with the chi-square test and binary logistic regression using Stata (version 16) software. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05. Results. The level of knowledge was low among 70.4% of the food vendors, and 51% had negative attitudes towards food safety and hygiene. Food hygiene practices were also poor among 52.3% of the participants. The predictors of low knowledge level were senior high (aOR=0.37, 95% CI (0.19-0.70), p=0.002) and junior high education (aOR=0.52, 95% CI (0.27-0.99), p=0.047). Having senior high education (aOR=0.37, 95% CI (0.17-0.82), p=0.014), prior training on food safety and hygiene (aOR=0.50, 95% CI (0.29-0.84), p=0.010), and having high level of knowledge (aOR=0.33, 95% CI (0.20-0.54), p=0.001) were associated with lower likelihood of negative attitude towards food safety and hygiene. Moreover, having junior high education (aOR=6.20, 95% CI (2.78-13.87), p=0.001), high level of knowledge (aOR=4.70, 95% CI (2.77-7.98), p=0.001), and positive attitude towards food safety and hygiene (aOR=1.76, 95% CI (1.08-2.87), p=0.023) were associated higher odds of good food practice. Conclusion. Knowledge and attitude regarding food safety and hygienic practices was poor among street food vendors. Future initiatives should focus on establishing training programs for food vendors within the metropolitan assembly to improve their knowledge on food safety and hygienic practices.
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spelling doaj-art-ae790ccf50d3455ab28e1a1b62b0f0af2025-02-03T01:29:42ZengWileyInternational Journal of Food Science2314-57652024-01-01202410.1155/2024/5553942Knowledge, Attitude, and Food Safety Practices among Street Food Vendors at a Metropolitan District in Ghana: A Cross-sectional StudyAbraham Norman Nortey0Hubert Amu1Ebenezer Senu2Alfred Effah3Department of Development PolicyDepartment of Population and Behavioral SciencesDepartment of Molecular MedicineDepartment of Molecular MedicineBackground. Street food is a vital component of cities and towns in developing countries. However, food poisoning has been associated with inadequate knowledge of food safety practices and inappropriate food handling. We examined the knowledge, attitude, and practices of street food sellers in the Takoradi Submetropolis, Ghana, on food safety and hygienic practice. Method. In this descriptive cross-sectional study, 406 street food vendors were recruited based on a simple random sampling technique from the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis, Ghana, using a structured questionnaire. Data collected were analyzed with the chi-square test and binary logistic regression using Stata (version 16) software. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05. Results. The level of knowledge was low among 70.4% of the food vendors, and 51% had negative attitudes towards food safety and hygiene. Food hygiene practices were also poor among 52.3% of the participants. The predictors of low knowledge level were senior high (aOR=0.37, 95% CI (0.19-0.70), p=0.002) and junior high education (aOR=0.52, 95% CI (0.27-0.99), p=0.047). Having senior high education (aOR=0.37, 95% CI (0.17-0.82), p=0.014), prior training on food safety and hygiene (aOR=0.50, 95% CI (0.29-0.84), p=0.010), and having high level of knowledge (aOR=0.33, 95% CI (0.20-0.54), p=0.001) were associated with lower likelihood of negative attitude towards food safety and hygiene. Moreover, having junior high education (aOR=6.20, 95% CI (2.78-13.87), p=0.001), high level of knowledge (aOR=4.70, 95% CI (2.77-7.98), p=0.001), and positive attitude towards food safety and hygiene (aOR=1.76, 95% CI (1.08-2.87), p=0.023) were associated higher odds of good food practice. Conclusion. Knowledge and attitude regarding food safety and hygienic practices was poor among street food vendors. Future initiatives should focus on establishing training programs for food vendors within the metropolitan assembly to improve their knowledge on food safety and hygienic practices.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2024/5553942
spellingShingle Abraham Norman Nortey
Hubert Amu
Ebenezer Senu
Alfred Effah
Knowledge, Attitude, and Food Safety Practices among Street Food Vendors at a Metropolitan District in Ghana: A Cross-sectional Study
International Journal of Food Science
title Knowledge, Attitude, and Food Safety Practices among Street Food Vendors at a Metropolitan District in Ghana: A Cross-sectional Study
title_full Knowledge, Attitude, and Food Safety Practices among Street Food Vendors at a Metropolitan District in Ghana: A Cross-sectional Study
title_fullStr Knowledge, Attitude, and Food Safety Practices among Street Food Vendors at a Metropolitan District in Ghana: A Cross-sectional Study
title_full_unstemmed Knowledge, Attitude, and Food Safety Practices among Street Food Vendors at a Metropolitan District in Ghana: A Cross-sectional Study
title_short Knowledge, Attitude, and Food Safety Practices among Street Food Vendors at a Metropolitan District in Ghana: A Cross-sectional Study
title_sort knowledge attitude and food safety practices among street food vendors at a metropolitan district in ghana a cross sectional study
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2024/5553942
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