FOOD SAFETY KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICES AMONG HOUSEHOLD WOMEN IN BAHAWALPUR CITY, PAKISTAN

Huda Abbas; Faiza Syed; Muneeba Syed; Wajahat Bukhari

doi:10.46903/gjms/20.03.986

FOOD SAFETY KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICES AMONG HOUSEHOLD WOMEN IN BAHAWALPUR CITY, PAKISTAN

Huda Abbas, Faiza Syed, Muneeba Syed, Wajahat Bukhari

Abstract

Background: Food safety is essential for preserving and promoting health of consumers. The objectives of this study were to determine the frequency of levels of food safety knowledge and practices and their association to age groups among household women in Bahawalpur City, Pakistan.

Materials & Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Department of Community Medicine, Quaid-E-Azam Medical College, Bahawalpur, Pakistan from April-September 2021. 193 household women were selected from Satellite Town and Shahdrah from Bahawalpur City. Age groups, food safety knowledge and practices were analyzed by count and percentage with 95%CI. Chi-square test of association was used to testify two hypotheses.

Results: Out of 193 women, maximum 93 (48.18%) belonged to 30-39 years, followed by 77 (39.89%) 40-49 years, 19 (9.844%) 20-29 years and four (2.072%) 15-19 years. Level of food safety knowledge was fair in 94 (48.70%), followed by good in 57 (29.53%) and poor in 42 (21.76%). Level of food safety practices was good in 94 (48.70%), fair in 65 (33.67%) and poor in 34 (17.61%). There was association between levels of food safety knowledge and age groups (p=.00008) and levels of food safety practices and age groups (p=.000017).

Conclusion: Our population showed level of food safety knowledge as fair in maximum women, followed by good and poor. Level of food safety practices was good in maximum women, followed by fair and poor. There was association between level of food safety knowledge and age groups and level of food safety practices and age groups of women.

Keywords

Food; Food Safety; Health; Knowledge; Public Health; Women; Age Groups; Pakistan.

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.46903/gjms/20.03.986