A BASELINE ASSESSMENT OF THE KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES AND PRACTICES OF FOOD SAFETY AMONG FOOD VENDORS IN LAGOS STATE UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL (LASUTH) IKEJA.
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Date
2017-03
Authors
Bakare, O.Q
Akinyinka, M.R
Odugbemi, B.A
Oluwole, E.O.
Adejumo, A.O
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Annals of Clinical Sciences
Abstract
Background: Food safety constitutes a significant public health issue both in the developed and developing countries resulting in millions of illnesses and deaths annually. The role of food vendors in ensuring food safety cannot be overemphasized. This study assessed the knowledge, attitudes and practices of food safety among food vendors in Lagos State University Teaching Hospital
(LASUTH), Ikeja, Lagos.
Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 67 food vendors operating at LASUTH, Ikeja. Data was collected by means of a pre-tested interviewer administered questionnaire and also an observational checklist. The questionnaire was used to collect information on food vendors knowledge and practices of food safety while the observational checklist was used to objectively assess food safety practices in each of the 8 registered food premises in the hospital. Data was analysed using the SPSS software version 17. Knowledge was graded as good (100 - 75%), fair (50-
74%) and poor (0 - 490%).
Results: A third of the food vendors were aged between 18-25 years. The majority were females (82%) and had a minimum of secondary school education. Only 18% of the respondents had good knowledge about food safety. All respondents claimed to wash hands with water and soap before preparing food and 97% claimed to wash hands after using the toilet. However, direct observations
showed poor hand washing practice among food handlers. A low utilization of protective wear was also observed as only one canteen had its food vendors cover their hair and none of the food vendors wore gloves while serving ready to eat food.
Conclusions: A low utilization of protective wear was also observed as only one canteen had its food vendors cover their hair and none of the food vendors wore gloves while serving ready to eat food.
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Scholarly article
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Citation
Bakare O.Q., Akinyinka M.R., Odugbemi B.A., Oluwole E.O., Adejumo A.O. A Baseline assessment on the knowledge, attitude and practice of food safety among food vendors in LASUTH. Annals of clinical sciences 2017; 2(1): 13-16.