Factors Associated with Foodborne Pathogens among Food Handlers: A Case Study of Thika, Kiambu County, Kenya
Increasing risks of infections with foodborne pathogens may occur as a result of poor food handling practices. The present cross-sectional study employed a mixed-methods approach to determine the factors associated with foodborne pathogens among food handlers working in the food establishments in Th...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
2023-01-01
|
| Series: | Advances in Public Health |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2023/9918421 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1832555328041910272 |
|---|---|
| author | Joseph Maina Kimemia John Gachuki Kariuki Alfred Owino Odongo Paul Ng’ang’a Murima |
| author_facet | Joseph Maina Kimemia John Gachuki Kariuki Alfred Owino Odongo Paul Ng’ang’a Murima |
| author_sort | Joseph Maina Kimemia |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Increasing risks of infections with foodborne pathogens may occur as a result of poor food handling practices. The present cross-sectional study employed a mixed-methods approach to determine the factors associated with foodborne pathogens among food handlers working in the food establishments in Thika, Kiambu County, Kenya. Random sampling was used to enroll respondents in the survey. A single stool specimen was collected from each study participant. Laboratory analysis of the specimen was done to test the selected foodborne pathogens. Overall, 44 out of the 285 food handlers who took part in the study had at least one food-transmitted pathogen, putting the prevalence of foodborne infections among the food handlers at 15.4% (95% confidence interval (CI) 11.7%–20.1%). The findings from multivariate logistic regression indicated the following protective factors for foodborne pathogens among the studied food handlers: being female (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 0.098 (95% CI 0.0304–0.315, p<0.001)); having a valid medical examination certificate (AOR 0.141 (95% CI 0.141–1. 0.439, p=0.001)); not boiling or treating water before serving the water to customers was a risk factor for having infections with foodborne pathogens (AOR 3.043 (95% CI 1.2225–7.577, p=0.017)). The presence of foodborne pathogens among the food handlers in the study area potentially highlights the need to address the spread and transmission of foodborne infections in the study area. There is a need to institute appropriate control measures, including regular screening of food handlers for foodborne illnesses in addition to training them on safe food handling practices, hand hygiene practices, and regular monitoring of the food handling practices. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-0c2d3bbf471044ff8a65fee22cf1243d |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2314-7784 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Advances in Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-0c2d3bbf471044ff8a65fee22cf1243d2025-02-03T05:48:30ZengWileyAdvances in Public Health2314-77842023-01-01202310.1155/2023/9918421Factors Associated with Foodborne Pathogens among Food Handlers: A Case Study of Thika, Kiambu County, KenyaJoseph Maina Kimemia0John Gachuki Kariuki1Alfred Owino Odongo2Paul Ng’ang’a Murima3Mount Kenya UniversityMount Kenya UniversityMount Kenya UniversityMinistry of HealthIncreasing risks of infections with foodborne pathogens may occur as a result of poor food handling practices. The present cross-sectional study employed a mixed-methods approach to determine the factors associated with foodborne pathogens among food handlers working in the food establishments in Thika, Kiambu County, Kenya. Random sampling was used to enroll respondents in the survey. A single stool specimen was collected from each study participant. Laboratory analysis of the specimen was done to test the selected foodborne pathogens. Overall, 44 out of the 285 food handlers who took part in the study had at least one food-transmitted pathogen, putting the prevalence of foodborne infections among the food handlers at 15.4% (95% confidence interval (CI) 11.7%–20.1%). The findings from multivariate logistic regression indicated the following protective factors for foodborne pathogens among the studied food handlers: being female (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 0.098 (95% CI 0.0304–0.315, p<0.001)); having a valid medical examination certificate (AOR 0.141 (95% CI 0.141–1. 0.439, p=0.001)); not boiling or treating water before serving the water to customers was a risk factor for having infections with foodborne pathogens (AOR 3.043 (95% CI 1.2225–7.577, p=0.017)). The presence of foodborne pathogens among the food handlers in the study area potentially highlights the need to address the spread and transmission of foodborne infections in the study area. There is a need to institute appropriate control measures, including regular screening of food handlers for foodborne illnesses in addition to training them on safe food handling practices, hand hygiene practices, and regular monitoring of the food handling practices.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2023/9918421 |
| spellingShingle | Joseph Maina Kimemia John Gachuki Kariuki Alfred Owino Odongo Paul Ng’ang’a Murima Factors Associated with Foodborne Pathogens among Food Handlers: A Case Study of Thika, Kiambu County, Kenya Advances in Public Health |
| title | Factors Associated with Foodborne Pathogens among Food Handlers: A Case Study of Thika, Kiambu County, Kenya |
| title_full | Factors Associated with Foodborne Pathogens among Food Handlers: A Case Study of Thika, Kiambu County, Kenya |
| title_fullStr | Factors Associated with Foodborne Pathogens among Food Handlers: A Case Study of Thika, Kiambu County, Kenya |
| title_full_unstemmed | Factors Associated with Foodborne Pathogens among Food Handlers: A Case Study of Thika, Kiambu County, Kenya |
| title_short | Factors Associated with Foodborne Pathogens among Food Handlers: A Case Study of Thika, Kiambu County, Kenya |
| title_sort | factors associated with foodborne pathogens among food handlers a case study of thika kiambu county kenya |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2023/9918421 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT josephmainakimemia factorsassociatedwithfoodbornepathogensamongfoodhandlersacasestudyofthikakiambucountykenya AT johngachukikariuki factorsassociatedwithfoodbornepathogensamongfoodhandlersacasestudyofthikakiambucountykenya AT alfredowinoodongo factorsassociatedwithfoodbornepathogensamongfoodhandlersacasestudyofthikakiambucountykenya AT paulngangamurima factorsassociatedwithfoodbornepathogensamongfoodhandlersacasestudyofthikakiambucountykenya |