Practices related to kitchen hygiene and food handling and preparation among the women in Bahrain

ABSTRACT

Food contamination considered one of the major public health problems in the Arab countries. Unsound food practices related to handling and preparation of food are the main factors responsible for this disease. The aim of this study, therefore, to assess some of practices related to kitchen hygiene and preparation of foods by women in Bahrain. Women were interviewed using specially design and pretested questionnaire from 6 health centers in Bahrain. The total sample was 372 women aged between 20 to 60 years. The finding reveled that 76% of women cleanup the refrigerator using water and soap. The using of cleaning agents, either for the refrigerator or the ground or the wall of kitchen was higher by highly and middle education women than low education women; but the difference was not statistically significant. The low education women were more likely to clean the refrigerator frequently per month [more than 7 time per month] compared to middle and high education women [34%, 36% and 29% respectively]. Similar trends was observed regarding frequently of cleaning walls or ground of the kitchen. It was found that 98% of women divided the food according to this needs, before they freez it. There was a significant association between the education and method of thawing frozen foods, as low education women were more likely to the Frozen foods in hot water, compared to middle and high education woman. Also education had a positive impact an removing the accessalrries from hands before preparation the food. Surprisingly, it was found that 29% of women rise a pet at their house. It can be concluded that there are some unhygienic practices by Bahraini women at although they education has appositive impact on reducing such practices. Their is an need for food hygiene education programme for women and the public