Household Food Safety Awareness of Female University Workers in South East Nigeria

Abstract

This study is aimed at exploring the awareness of household food safety among female University workers in South East Nigeria. Specifically the study identified the food safety knowledge, attitude/ perception to food safety issues, food purchasing, food handling and preparation practices among female university workers and ways of improving household food safety practices. The descriptive survey design was employed. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data from a sample of four hundred and ninety female university workers obtained from a total population of two thousand four hundred and fifty females working in the five federal universities in the south east zone of Nigeria. Frequency and mean were used to analyze the data obtained from the questionnaire. The study revealed that the female university workers have some adequate knowledge about food safety practices. However, more than half of the respondents were not aware of the role of temperature control as a means of reducing the risk of food borne illnesses. It is suggested that public health education program be designed to enhance household safety awareness.

Keywords: Food Safety, Household, Awareness, Female University Workers.