Factors affecting food hygiene practices of local food vendors in Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State

Background: The birth of globalization gave rise to an increase in local food vending businesses in our societies, thereby making local food vendors key contributors to nutritional status of the population, which impacts health. Poor food hygiene practices by food vendors/handlers have led to consumption of unsafe food, consequently causing outbreak of food borne diseases which has increased morbidity and mortality rates in our country.

Objective: The aim of this study is to determine the factors affecting food hygiene practices of local food vendors in Obio-Akpor Local Government Area (LGA) of Rivers State.

Methods: This study is a descriptive cross-sectional study. The sample size calculated to be 422 using Cochran formula and a multi-stage sampling technique was employed to recruit the study participant. A pretested interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. Data generated was analysed using version 26 of SPSS.

Results: Findings from this study showed that only 37.6% and 36.3% of respondents who possessed good knowledge and attitude respectively, practiced good food hygiene. This implies that having good knowledge and attitude of food hygiene does not always translate to good practice.

Conclusion: This study reveals that a greater proportion of the food vendors lack basic infrastructure such as good water source and license, which is important to enhance food hygiene practices. Therefore, government should provide basic infrastructure necessary to improve food hygiene practices and ensure registration and licensing all food vendors.