A cross-sectional study on food safety knowledge, practices, and associated factors among meat handlers in Kandahar City, Afghanistan

Abstract

Food safety concerns in Afghanistan are intricate, resulting from an intersection of inadequate infrastructure, widespread food insecurity, and the prevalent presence of foodborne pathogens including coliforms, Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., Listeria monocytogenes, and the Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus, which have led to associated illnesses. These obstacles pose significant risks to public health and mandatory food safety training and certification programs should be introduced to improve hygiene standards among meat handlers in Kandahar City. A cross-sectional study was conducted engaging 95 meat handlers during the timeframe extending from July to August 2024. Data collection was executed through in-person interviews employing a rigorously constructed questionnaire. The questionnaire was organized into three sections: socio-demographic attributes, food safety knowledge assessments, and food safety practices evaluations. Our results indicated that 95.80% of meat handlers exhibited a high level of food safety knowledge; however, 65.3% did not demonstrate adequate understanding of food poisoning, while 69.95% of respondents exhibited awareness regarding infectious diseases. Our analysis revealed a significant correlation between educational attainment and possession of a health certificate with the degree of food safety knowledge. The study advocates for specialized training programs to enhance personal and environmental hygiene to bolster compliance with food safety standards. Consequently, it is advisable to implement the formulation of a comprehensive food safety policy within the context of a One Health framework, alongside fostering collaborative initiatives aimed at enhancing awareness among various stakeholders involved in food safety.