Health Needs and Problems Related to Food Hygiene Practices Among Primary School Children

Abstract

Food hygiene is the action taken to ensure that food is handled, stored, prepared and served in such a way to prevent the contamination of food. Poor food hygiene may cause food poisoning outbreaks and eventually loss of lives. The present work was conducted to assess health needs & problems related to food hygiene practices and assess knowledge and practices of primary school children. A Descriptive study was done using multistage sample on 503 6th grade primary school children from 10 governmental school, 2 private school and 2 Azhar schools in Elmehalla alkoubra city. Three tools were used to collect the data: 1- Self administered questionnaire sheet: Was designed to collect the following data: a- Socio demographic data regarding to a gender, rank, total number of house held members, crowding index, level of education and work of both parents. b- Questions related to food hygiene knowledge such as: - Sources of food contamination. - Diseases which are transmitting by food. - Signs &symptoms of food borne illness. - Signs of food spoilage or contamination. - Criteria of food establishment. c- Questions related to food hygiene practices: - Hand washing habits, method of hand washing