title: A mixed methods study of food safety knowledge, practices and beliefs in Hispanic families with young children.
abstract: Children are at a higher risk for foodborne illness. The objective of this study was to explore food safety knowledge, beliefs and practices among Hispanic families with young children (≤10 years of age) living within a Midwestern state. A convergent mixed methods design collected qualitative and quantitative data in parallel. Food safety knowledge surveys were administered (n = 90) prior to exploration of beliefs and practices among six focus groups (n = 52) conducted by bilingual interpreters in community sites in five cities/towns. Descriptive statistics determined knowledge scores and thematic coding unveiled beliefs and practices. Data sets were merged to assess concordance. Participants were female (96%), 35.7 (±7.6) years of age, from Mexico (69%), with the majority having a low education level. Food safety knowledge was low (56% ± 11). Focus group themes were: Ethnic dishes popular, Relating food to illness, Fresh food in home country, Food safety practices, and Face to face learning. Mixed method analysis revealed high self confidence in preparing food safely with low safe food handling knowledge and the presence of some cultural beliefs. On-site Spanish classes and materials were preferred venues for food safety education. Bilingual food safety messaging targeting common ethnic foods and cultural beliefs and practices is indicated to lower the risk of foodborne illness in Hispanic families with young children.
authors.affiliation: Nutrition, Family and Consumer Sciences Advisor Fresno/Madera Counties, University of California Cooperative Extension, 550 E. Shaw Ave, Suite 210 B, Fresno, CA 93710, USA.
authors.forename: Kristen M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Stenger
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences, 316 LEV, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583-0806, USA.
authors.forename: Paula K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Ritter-Gooder
authors.affiliation: Health Education, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA.
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Perry
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences, 119 LEV, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583-0806, USA. Electronic address: jalbrecht1@unl.edu.
authors.forename: Julie A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Albrecht
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000208:ethnology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D065246:Culturally Competent Care; D004034:Diet Surveys; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D059022:Food Safety; D005517:Foodborne Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice / Q000208:ethnology; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007227:Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000208:ethnology; D008297:Male; D009329:Nebraska / Q000453:epidemiology; D009679:Nuclear Family / Q000208:ethnology; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012306:Risk
keywords: Food handling practices; Food safety; Foodborne illness; Health belief model; Mixed methods