KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE TOWARDS HYGIENE AND SANITATION AMONG FOOD HANDLERS IN ST PAUL’S HOSPITAL MILLENNIUM MEDICAL COLLEGE CAFETERIAS, ADDIS ABEBA, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Abstract Background: Food borne illnesses are prevalent in all parts of the world and a major public health burden in Africa and specifically in Ethiopia. Food borne illnesses are prevalent in Ethiopia and the loss of human life and suffering is enormous. The current disease burden in Ethiopia is attributable to poor sanitation. Objective: The purpose of this study is to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice towards hygiene and sanitation among food handlers in Saint Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College cafeteria. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study design was conducted from March 1 to 10, 2017 in Saint Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical Collage’s cafeterias by using convenience sampling method. Four establishments under the collage are enrolled in this study. The collected data was cleaned and entered by the data collector. The knowledge, attitude and practice of food handlers on food hygiene and sanitation was analyzed by using SPSS version 20 Software Result: Out of the 120 food handlers 89(74.2%) are females. The mean age is 37 years old. One hundred seven (89.2%) of the food handlers have a good knowledge among which eighty three (69.2) of them had good attitude. But only sixty two of them (51.7%) had a good practice. Training status, educational status and attitude of food handlers have significant association with practice score. Five of the six cafeteria kitchens have big crack and detached area over the floor with none having openable window. Only two cafeterias have refrigerator and toilet facility. All six cafeterias have septic tank to dispose water waste and use barrel or sack for solid waste. Five of the cafeterias have accessible water in the kitchen but only two have hot running water. Conclusion and Recommendation: There is good knowledge of food born disease and good attitude towards hygiene. But the practice score of is not satisfactory. Therefore, hiring food handlers with higher educational status and trained on food handling. Also training food handlers frequently so as to improve their attitude is essential. The sanitary condition of almost all cafeterias is in critical condition. Therefore, frequent maintenance, repairing and extensive promotion of sanitation should be done in all cafeterias. Key words: Food safety, Food handlers, Hygiene, Sanitation