Safe meat-handling knowledge, attitudes and practices of private and government meat processing plants' workers: implications for future policy.
BACKGROUND
Food-borne disease outbreaks remain a major global health challenge and cross-contamination from raw meat due to poor handling is a major cause in developing countries. Adequate knowledge of meat handlers is important in limiting these outbreaks. This study evaluated and compared the safe meat-handling knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) of private (PMPP) and government meat processing plants' (GMPP) workers in south-western Nigeria.


METHODS
This cross sectional study comprised 190 meat handlers (PMPP = 55; GMPP = 135). Data concerning their safe meat-handling knowledge, attitudes and practices as well as their socio-demographic characteristics, such as age, gender and work experience were collected.


RESULTS
A significant association was observed between the type of meat processing plants and their knowledge (p = 0.000), attitudes (p = 0.000) and practices (p = 0.000) of safe meat-handling. Meat handlers in the GMPP were respectively, about 17 times (OR = 0.060, 95% CI: 0.018-0.203), 57 times (OR = 0.019, 95% CI: 0.007-0.054) and 111 times (OR = 0.009, 95% CI: 0.001- 0.067) less likely to obtain good knowledge, attitude and practice level of safe meat-handling than those from PMPP. Further, KAP levels were significantly associated with age group, education and work experience (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Study findings suggest the need for future policy in food industry in developing countries to accommodate increased involvement of private sector for improved food safety and quality delivery. Public health education on safe food handling and hygiene should be on the front burner among food handlers in general.
H K
HK
Adesokan
A O Q
AO
Raji
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001290:Attitude; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005511:Food Handling / Q000592:standards; D059022:Food Safety; D005517:Foodborne Diseases; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008462:Meat-Packing Industry / Q000592:standards*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D017149:Private Sector; D011361:Professional Competence; D017150:Public Sector; D055815:Young Adult