Assessment of Food Hygiene and Safety Practices among Street Food Vendors and its Associated Factors in Urban Areas of Shashemane,WestArsiZone,Oromia Ethiopia, 2019.

Executive Summary

Background: Due to consumption of unhygienic and unsafe food, foodborne diseases are a major public health concern causing a significant morbidity and mortality rate globally. In our time, street foods are thriving in many towns of Ethiopia including urban areas in Shashemane. It becomes common to see street vendors around school, hospitals, bus stations where several people are congested. Since street vended food is operated under poor sanitary conditions near the street, it can be contaminated with many pathogens that can expose consumers for various foodborne diseases. These situations require an evaluation of safety and hygiene of street foods being served in urban areas in order to prevent them from developing into health risks among consumers. Therefore, this study is intended to investigate the hygiene practices of street food vendors and safety of street foods in Shashemane,WestArsi Zone,Oromia, Ethiopia.

Objectives: To assess the practice of food hygiene and safety, and its associated factors among street food vendors and consumers in urban areas of Shashemane,WestArsiZone,Oromia Ethiopia, 2019.

Methods: Cross sectional study design was applied from December 2019 to January 27, 2020. Data was collected from 120 food handlers, which were selected by purposive sampling techniques. Information was gathered from Interview and field observation by conducting food safety survey and using questionnaires via face to face interview. The collected data was entered using EpiData 3.1 and finally, it was analyzed using SPSS VERSION 20.

Results:The magnitude of good food handling practice among street food vendors and food handlers in food establishments in this study is 27.5%.49.2%of food handlers had good Knowledge of food handling practice. Average monthly income > 1500; being in Primary school; good Knowledge of Food handling and Receiving Food handling training are independent predictors of Good food handling practice.

Conclusion: Good food handling practice among street food vendors and food handlers in food establishments in this study is very low;monthly income > 1500; being in Primary school; good Knowledge of Food handling and Receiving Food handling training are independent predictors of Good food handling practice

Key words:Street foods, Food safety, Food hygiene practices