Household Food Handling Practices and Associated Factors Among Adult Women in Gondar City, Northwest Ethiopia: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study Design.

Abstract

Background: Foodborne illness poses a serious threat to public health in low-income countries. This study aims to assess the household food-handling practices of adult women in Gondar City, Northwest Ethiopia, and to examine associated factors.

Methods: A community-based cross-sectional survey was conducted from May 20 to June 19, 2024, and 636 women were randomly selected to participate. Data on socio-demographic, behavioral, and environmental factors were collected using a standardized, pretested questionnaire. Composite indices for knowledge, attitude, and practice were created, with scores of 70% or higher considered good performance. Both binary and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed. To assess model fit, we used the Hosmer-Lemeshow test, which yielded a p-value of 0.72, and calculated the variance inflation factor, which was less than 2.5.

Results: Overall, 53.8% of individuals (95% CI: 49.9-57.6) handled food safely. Good practice was significantly associated with higher education (AOR: 4.22, 95% CI: 2.11-8.44), marriage (AOR: 4.25, 95% CI: 2.05-8.79), good knowledge (AOR: 2.30, 95% CI: 1.49-3.54), a positive attitude (AOR: 2.52, 95% CI: 1.23-5.16), and access to proper food-handling information (AOR: 3.25, 95% CI: 1.90-5.56).

Conclusion: Although more than half had good food-handling practices, substantial gaps remain in knowledge, attitudes, and environmental conditions. Improving women's access to food-handling information and strengthening behavioral change interventions are suggested.