Abstract:
Introduction: Food borne illnesses comprise a broad spectrum of diseases and are responsible for substantial morbidity and mortality worldwide.
The global incidence of food borne disease is difficult to estimate, but it has been reported that 2.1 million people died each year from
diarrheal diseases and contaminated food contributes to 1.5 billion cases of diarrhea in children each year, resulting in more than three million
premature deaths. In developing countries, up to an estimated 70% of cases of diarrheal diseases are associated with the consumption of contaminated
foods. Approximately 10 to 20% of food-borne disease outbreaks are due to contamination by the food handler.
Objective: This study was conducted to assess food safety practices and associated factors of food handlers working in substandard food
establishments of Gondar town, Northwest Ethiopia, 2013/14.
Methods: Institution based cross sectional study design was conducted to assess food safety practices and associated factors of food handlers.
Four hundred three food handlers were taken randomly as study subjects and data were collected by observation by using standardized questionnaire
and observational check lists. Ordinal logistic regression model was fitted to analyze the predictor variables.
Results: The overall level of food safety practices (good – 30.30%, fair- 47.60% and poor – 22.10%) was reported. Of a number of predictor
variables analyzed age, marital status, service year, monthly income, food hygiene and safety training, attitude, knowledge and depth of knowledge
were identified as factors affecting food safety practices.
Conclusion and recommendations: Compared to other similar studies, Low level of food safety practice (good – 30.30%, fair- 47.60% and
poor – 22.10%) was reported. Therefore, Environmental health practitioners, the local Medias and the managers should do a lot to improve
food safety practices of the food handlers. They should also design and implement food safety awareness creation programs
