Knowledge of hygienic food-handling Practices among street Food vendors in Dhading Besi, District Dhading, Nepal

Abstract

The research titled“ Knowledge and practice regarding street food vendors in selected area of Dhading District. Food is an important basic necessity, its procurement, preparation and consumption is vital for the sustenance of life. However, diseases that spread through food are common and persistent problems result in appreciable morbidity and occasionally in death. The study was conducted to assess the knowledge and practice regarding food hygiene among street food vendors of Dhading Bensi. A cross sectional descriptive study includes total number of 47 street food vendors. A purposive sampling technique was adopted. The semi- structured questionnaire, direct face to face interview and observation checklist were used to conducted study. Ethical consideration was maintained during the study. The obtained data was organized, coded and entered into Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS version 16) and was analyzed using descriptive statistics. Chi-Square test was to determine the level of knowledge with selected variables at P value < 0.05. Among the respondents (42.6%) belong to age group between 15 years to 25 years of age with Mean ± S.D = 32.40 ± 13.61. More than half of the respondent (63.8%) had an adequate level of knowledge regarding food hygiene whereas (36.2%) of the respondent had an inadequate level of knowledge. Whereas, duration of current employment of street food vendor is significantly associated with knowledge regarding food hygiene. Similarly, most of the respondents (80.9%) had an inadequate level of practice whereas only the few number of respondent had adequate level of practice regarding food hygiene. The knowledge and practice of food hygiene of street vended food can however be improved if a sufficiently high proportion of vendors receive training in basic hygiene skill. Though knowledge of food hygiene was good, but still lack food hygiene knowledge and there was not adequate practice regarding food hygiene hence, the food hygienist and environmental health professional should make concerted effort to promote or increase awareness of food hygiene through mass media and social media. As well as Local level of government of Dhading District should enforce quality food hygiene assessment parameters for food establishment.