FOOD HANDLING PRACTICE AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG FOOD HANDLERS WORKING IN FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS IN ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background: Food can be subjected to contaminate with toxic substances and pathogenic organisms from production to services. Many of the food handlers working in food establishments have been subjected to poor food handling practice. Food-borne infections are major public health problems, which become a significant public health issue all over the world. Objective: To assess food handling practice and associated factors among food handlers working in food establishments in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2021. Method: An Institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Addis Ababa in February2021. The sampled population was randomly selected food handlers who are working in selected food establishments in Addis Ababa. The required sample size of the study was505 and data was collected by face-to-face interview technique using a structured questionnaire and observational checklist. Data was entered to a computer using Epi Info version 7 and was transferred to SPSS version 20 statistical software for analysis. Both bi-variable and multi variable logistic regression models were used to identify associated factors of food handling practice. Result:From all interviewed food handlers, the overall good food handling practice was 282 (59%). Work experience between 1 to 5 years in food establishments (AOR = 3.26, 95% CI 1.29, 8.21), primary education (grade 1–8 grades) (AOR = 4.13, 95% CI 1.80, 9.48) and regular medical checkup(AOR = 1.71, 95% CI 1.06, 2.75) were significantly associated with good food handling practice. Conclusion: This study reveals that relatively poor food handling practices was observed in the study areas. This study also indicates that food handlers had relatively poor knowledge and attitude towards food handling practices. Age, educational status, experience, training license, working hours and regular medical checkup were significantly associated with good food handling practice. Sanitary inspection should beperformed regularly on the food handling practice of the food handlers. Keywords: Food handling practices, Foodhandlers, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia