Food Safety Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Food Handlers at Senior High Schools in the Tamale Metropolis.

Abstract

Food safety is critical in institutions that serve large numbers of people on a daily basis. The purpose of the study was to examine the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of food handlers regarding food safety procedures in Senior High Schools in the Tamale Metropolis. Additionally, the study evaluated the relationship among food safety knowledge, attitudes and practices of food handlers. A cross-sectional survey design was employed and a questionnaire and observation checklist were used to gather data from 131 respondents in the schools. The study tested four hypotheses and used a one-sample t-test and Pearson Moment correlation to determine the statistical significance and relationships among the variables. Findings revealed a statistically significant difference in knowledge levels among food handlers at (P≤0.05), with 92.4% demonstrating high knowledge and 7.6% exhibiting low knowledge. There was also a statistically significant difference in attitudes towards food safety, with most food handlers displaying a positive attitude. Furthermore, food safety practices of the respondents significantly differed, with 77.1% demonstrating good practices and 22.9% exhibiting poor practices. Finally, the study established strong positive correlations among the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of food handlers. The study also found that a significant number of food handlers in the schools lacked formal education or certification in food safety training, which may explain the differences in food safety knowledge, attitudes, and practices among the respondents. Policymakers should therefore implement mandatory food safety training and certification for all school food handlers.