KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE & PRACTICE AMONG THE FOOD HANDLERS OF BAHAWAL VICTORIA HOSPITAL, BWP

Introduction: Food is an important basic necessity for life. It’s procurement, preparation and consumption is vital for the sustenance of life. Food borne illnesses have an impact on both developing and developed countries. Ensuring safe food handling and preparation is of paramount significance. This study seeks to examine the awareness of food handlers’ personal hygiene knowledge on food handling practices.

Objective: The aim of this study is to assess the knowledge, attitude and practices regarding food hygiene among the food handlers of canteens In BVH, Bahawalpur.

Methodology: A cross sectional descriptive study was conducted from January to April 2018.Sample size is 100 due to economic and time constraints. Data is collected through a preformed questionnaire. Data was analyzed on SPSS worksheet. All results were presented in tabulated forms

Results: Mean age of 100 food handlers was 32 years. Majority were males (93%) and the maximum number of participants in the age group of 21-30 years (40.4%). Majority of the food handlers had poor knowledge regarding food borne diseases (64%). Most of the participants have the attitude of serving hot food (89%). All (100%) the food handlers wash hands before food preparation while (58%) use gloves for food preparation. Majority of the food handlers clean their workplace twice a day (57%). There is adequate protection of food from flies in most of the canteens (85%). Most of the food handlers had clean hands (69%) and finger nails (84%).

Conclusion: Majority of the study participants have poor knowledge related to food borne diseases but positive attitude and practices towards food hygiene while food preparation.

Key words: Food hygiene, Food handlers, Food borne diseases