Food safety knowledge, attitude, and hygiene practices of street-cooked food handlers in North Dayi District, Ghana

BACKGROUND@#Food safety and hygiene are currently a global health apprehension especially in unindustrialized countries as a result of increasing food-borne diseases (FBDs) and accompanying deaths. This study aimed at assessing knowledge, attitude, and hygiene practices (KAP) of food safety among street-cooked food handlers (SCFHs) in North Dayi District, Ghana.@*METHODS@#This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted on 407 SCFHs in North Dayi District, Ghana. The World Health Organization's Five Keys to Safer Food for food handlers and a pretested structured questionnaire were adapted for data collection among stationary SCFHs along principal streets. Significant parameters such as educational status, average monthly income, registered SCFHs, and food safety training course were used in bivariate and multivariate logistic regression models to calculate the power of the relationships observed.@*RESULTS@#The majority 84.3% of SCFHs were female and 56.0% had not attended a food safety training course. This study showed that 67.3%, 58.2%, and 62.9% of SCFHs had good levels of KAP of food safety, respectively. About 87.2% showed a good attitude of separating uncooked and prepared meal before storage. Good knowledge of food safety was 2 times higher among registered SCFHs compared to unregistered [cOR=1.64, p=0.032]. SCFHs with secondary education were 4 times good at hygiene practices of food safety likened to no education [aOR=4.06, p=0.003]. Above GHc1500 average monthly income earners were 5 times good at hygiene practices of food safety compared to below GHc500 [aOR=4.89, p=0.006]. Registered SCFHs were 8 times good at hygiene practice of food safety compared to unregistered [aOR=7.50, p<0.001]. The odd for good hygiene practice of food safety was 6 times found among SCFHs who had training on food safety courses likened to those who had not [aOR=5.97, p<0.001].@*CONCLUSIONS@#Over half of the SCFHs had good levels of KAP of food safety. Registering as SCFH was significantly associated with good knowledge and hygiene practices of food safety. Therefore, our results may present an imperative foundation for design to increase food safety and hygiene practice in the district, region, and beyond.

Occurrence of common diseases due to habitual food habit or other habit among the students from different regions of Chattogram, Bangladesh

Background:There are some common diseases found among the students of different areas in Bangladesh which are either communicable or non-communicable. Different infectious diseases occur due to lack of hygiene practice and non-infectious diseases are developed because of many irregular daily habits all over the world. Our aim was to evaluate the habit of practicing hygiene and other daily activities to observe their impacts on the health status among the students from different regions of Chattogram in Bangladesh.Methods:With ethical approval, questionnaire forms of daily habits/activities were filled up by 750 students of different educational institutions. The data were analysed afterwards. Results:Among the population of the study 89% (n=667) students werefound to take regular bath; hand washing was regular among 32% (n=240) students, 54% (n=405) students were irregular in hand washing and the rests wash their hands rarely; on the other hand 41% (n=308) students consume street foods regularly; 38% (n=285) students wear eyeglasses due to weak sight; 23% (n=173) suffer from different skin diseases and 63% (n=473) students usually suffer from different gastro intestinal diseases.Conclusions:Our results are not so frustrating, but also not so much good as majority of the students are fond of unhealthy street foods, don’t wash hands regularly and more than half of the students suffer from GI tract diseases with other health problems. It could be recommended that some daily habits including avoiding street foods, intake of sufficient drinking water and hygiene practices should be improved more.

Menstrual hygiene practice between rural and urban high school adolescent girls in Bangladesh

Background: Menstruation is a natural, normal biological process experienced by all adolescent girls and women. Urinary tract infection, reproductive tract infection and complication during pregnancy are the impact of poor menstrual hygiene practices. The aim of this study is to compare the menstrual hygiene practice between rural and urban high school adolescent girls in Bangladesh.Methods: A descriptive comparative study design was used. Cluster sampling technique was used to select 120 study participants. The data were collected through self-reported questionnaire by structured questionnaires. In descriptive statistics; frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation and in inferential statistics; chi-square-test, t-test was used to compare the menstrual hygiene practice between rural and urban. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 23.Results: There was significant difference between rural and urban girls regarding mean age at menarche (5.50, p = 0.000). There was a statistically significant difference between rural and urban girls using of sanitary pad (30.54, p = 0.000) and reusable cloth (38.92, p = 0.000).Conclusions: This study found that menstrual hygiene practice (MHP) was more among the urban high school adolescent girls than in the rural high school adolescent girls. The result provides baseline information regarding menstrual hygiene practice (MHP) among rural participants that’s why need more emphasize on health promotion and counseling program regarding menstrual hygiene practice (MHP) among rural and primary level health sectors in Bangladesh.

Food hygiene practice among mothers and its association with occurrence of diarrhea in under-five children in selected rural community area

Background: Diarrhea is the condition of having at least three loose or liquid bowel movements each day. Diarrhea is the main cause of death among under-five children in India. It often lasts for a few days and can result in dehydration due to fluid loss. Mother’s basic knowledge of diarrhea depends on various factors such as educational status, prior experience of managing the disease, and food hygiene. Diarrheal diseases remain an important cause of mortality and morbidity among children, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Objective: The main aim is to measure the food hygiene practice among mothers and occurrence of diarrhea in under-five children. Materials and Methods: A non-experimental descriptive research design was conducted among 186 under-five children, mothers were selected using convenient sampling technique who fulfill inclusion criteria from the rural area of Doiwala block. Information was collected with the help of structure questionnaire on child feeding hygiene practice and practice checklist on food hygiene. Ethical permission and written consent were taken from the ethical committee of university and participants. Results: The research finding highlights that less than half of mothers (44.6%) use bowel spoon for feeding to their child. Majority of mothers (84.9%) wash his child hand with soap. Most of the mothers (74.2%) were not wash vegetables after cutting. Only 63% had check expiry of the food material before giving it to the child. Most of mothers (97.3%) wash hand of child before eating food. Nearby 38.2% of children had diarrhea in the past 6 months due to the unhygienic food practice. Conclusion: The investigator observed that there is a need to improved food hygiene practice among under 5-year children mothers because diarrhea is directly related to unhygienic food condition. The under-five children are totally depend on the mothers. If mothers will not improve food hygiene practice, then children will suffer from the diarrhea disease again and again.

Quantification of poor menstrual hygiene among women of reproductive age group in a slum of Kolkata

Background: Menstruation, a phenomenon unique to the females, is the cyclical shedding of the inner lining of uterus. It is associated with myths and misconceptions and poor knowledge of the normal physiology. Above all, poor menstrual hygiene is a precursor of various morbidities related to the reproductive tract. This study was conducted among women of reproductive age (WRA) group with the aim to assess their socio demographic characteristics, to elicit the knowledge, attitude and practices regarding menstruation and to find the factors associated with the menstrual hygiene practice.Methods: This community based cross-sectional study was conducted among 152 women aged (15-49 years) during December 2017 to January 2018 in Lockgate area of Chetla, Kolkata, West Bengal, India. Data on socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge, attitude and practices towards menstruation were obtained from structured questionnaire. Outcome variable was menstrual hygiene practice. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were performed to analyze the data by using SPSS 16.0 version.Results: The mean ages of the participants were 27±8 years. Inadequate knowledge, negative attitude and unsatisfactory practice towards menstruation were 73.7%, 65.1% and 62.5% respectively. Significant correlates were Lower level of education [AOR=1.6 (1.3, 2.1)] and less per capita income [AOR=4.7(1.4, 15.5)] for inadequate knowledge. Less per capita income [AOR=4.7(1.9, 11.1)] for negative attitude. Increasing age [AOR=1.1 (1, 1.2)] and lower level of education [AOR=1.3 (1.2, 1.6)] for unsatisfactory menstrual hygiene practice when adjusted with other variables in the multivariate analysis.Conclusions: Women need to be educated about the significance of menstruation, importance of high quality menstrual hygiene management, use of satisfactory absorbent material, proper and hygienic disposal of menstrual absorbent so as to enable them to lead a healthy reproductive life.

Dental Hygienist-Led Dental Hygiene Process of Care for Self-Support Program Participants in Gangneung / 치위생과학회지

This study aimed to provide basic data for establishing the clinical basis for dental hygienist-led dental hygiene process of care by identifying multiple risk factors for self-support program participants in Gangneung city; we also compared oral health status and behavioral changes through customized oral health care. Four dental hygienists who were evaluated for degree of conformity provided dental hygiene process of care to eight self-support program participants who were selected as having an oral health risk among people in the self-support center. The clinical indicators measured during dental hygiene assessment and evaluation and behavioral changes due to dental hygiene intervention were compared and analyzed. With respect to clinical indicators, at the time of probe, the retention rate of patients with gingival bleeding decreased from 61.4% to 14.7% after intervention (p=0.004). Furthermore, the retention rate of patients with a periodontal pocket >4 mm decreased from 15.6% to 5.8% (p=0.001). The average modified O'Leary index of the patients improved from 23 to 40 (p=0.002). Previously, all eight subjects used the vertical or horizontal method of brushing; after dental hygiene care interventions regarding method and frequency of toothbrushing, use of oral care products, and individual interventions, they started using the rolling or Bass method of toothbrushing. Four of eight subjects reported using interdental toothbrushes after intervention. As a result of applying the change model to the transtheoretical behavior change of the subject, the result of strengthening the health behavior was confirmed. For promotion of oral health by the prevention-centered incremental oral health care system, dental hygienist-led dental hygiene management and maintenance is essential. It is thought that continuous research, such as for feasibility evaluation, cost benefit analysis, and preparation of legal systems, is needed to establish and activate dental hygiene management.

Evaluation of Project-Based Learning on Community Dental Hygiene Practice Education / 치위생과학회지

The purpose of this study was to evaluate community dental hygiene practice education, by verifying its effect after applying project-based learning in improving the practical and social skills of learners. A 15-week project-based community dental hygiene practice course was held for 27 senior students, who took community dental hygiene practice course in the Department of Dental Hygiene, Gangneung-Wonju National University. Twenty-seven students were composed of 4 teams. Each team selected a target group for four workplaces for adult workers to apply the oral health promotion project. The project was then planned and conducted based on a survey on the health problems confronting each group, and an evaluation was carried out after 4 weeks. From the results obtained in comparing confidence in problem solving ability, project value, teamwork competency, and community dental hygienist competence before and after course, the improvement in project value and teamwork competence scores was not statistically significant, but all four areas showed positive results. After analyzing the project actuality, learning outcomes, and project satisfaction after course results, the actuality of the project was 19.30 points, the learning achievement was 45.19 points, and the satisfaction was 19.19 points, demonstrating that the aim of achieving actual performance competence and a learning performance exceeding expectations was accomplished. After conducting an interview survey with 8 students, it was found that they had learned social skills involving problem-solving abilities and confidence, and teamwork competence such as cooperation, role responsibility, creative thinking ability, and communication skills. Community dental hygienists should be able to acquire learner-level practical skills and social skills in the community dental hygiene and practical courses, according to their competencies and job needs. It is necessary to develop a project-based systematic learning module to enable the community dental hygiene practice to operate as a subject closely related to fields in other dental hygiene departments.

Evaluation of the food safety training for food handlers in restaurant operations

This study examined the extent of improvement of food safety knowledge and practices of employee through food safety training. Employee knowledge and practice for food safety were evaluated before and after the food safety training program. The training program and questionnaires for evaluating employee knowledge and practices concerning food safety, and a checklist for determining food safety performance of restaurants were developed. Data were analyzed using the SPSS program. Twelve restaurants participated in this study. We split them into two groups: the intervention group with training, and the control group without food safety training. Employee knowledge of the intervention group also showed a significant improvement in their score, increasing from 49.3 before the training to 66.6 after training. But in terms of employee practices and the sanitation performance, there were no significant increases after the training. From these results, we recommended that the more job-specific and hand-on training materials for restaurant employees should be developed and more continuous implementation of the food safety training and integration of employee appraisal program with the outcome of safety training were needed.