Awareness of Foodborne Pathogens among Students: A Cross-Sectional Study in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Food poisoning associated with microbial pathogens causes millions of foodborne disease cases in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Awareness about foodborne pathogens may play a positive role in the reduction of foodborne illnesses. The present cross-sectional study investigates awareness about five majo...

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Main Author: Mohammed AL-Mohaithef
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2021-01-01
Series:International Journal of Food Science
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/9971748
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author Mohammed AL-Mohaithef
author_facet Mohammed AL-Mohaithef
author_sort Mohammed AL-Mohaithef
collection DOAJ
description Food poisoning associated with microbial pathogens causes millions of foodborne disease cases in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Awareness about foodborne pathogens may play a positive role in the reduction of foodborne illnesses. The present cross-sectional study investigates awareness about five major microbial pathogens (Salmonella, Campylobacter, Staphylococcus, Listeria, and Escherichia coli) among university students (n=399) from four major cities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Multiple logistic regression models were used to predict the determinants of inadequate knowledge. Of the 399 study participants, only 34.5% of students knew the above-mentioned foodborne pathogens. Awareness varied by pathogen, and the variations appeared to be related to age, sex, education, and field of study. In comparison to students in health sciences, students in computer sciences were found to be less knowledgeable about foodborne pathogens (OR: 2.85; 95% CI: 1.36-5.99). Our findings suggest that awareness about microbial pathogens is low among students and is associated with their field of study. Effective education programs about foodborne hazards could help improve students’ awareness of microbial pathogens.
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spelling doaj-art-34767bdb4aef4c4e8612178893c83b4e2025-08-20T02:24:07ZengWileyInternational Journal of Food Science2356-70152314-57652021-01-01202110.1155/2021/99717489971748Awareness of Foodborne Pathogens among Students: A Cross-Sectional Study in the Kingdom of Saudi ArabiaMohammed AL-Mohaithef0Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Saudi Electronic University, Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaFood poisoning associated with microbial pathogens causes millions of foodborne disease cases in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Awareness about foodborne pathogens may play a positive role in the reduction of foodborne illnesses. The present cross-sectional study investigates awareness about five major microbial pathogens (Salmonella, Campylobacter, Staphylococcus, Listeria, and Escherichia coli) among university students (n=399) from four major cities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Multiple logistic regression models were used to predict the determinants of inadequate knowledge. Of the 399 study participants, only 34.5% of students knew the above-mentioned foodborne pathogens. Awareness varied by pathogen, and the variations appeared to be related to age, sex, education, and field of study. In comparison to students in health sciences, students in computer sciences were found to be less knowledgeable about foodborne pathogens (OR: 2.85; 95% CI: 1.36-5.99). Our findings suggest that awareness about microbial pathogens is low among students and is associated with their field of study. Effective education programs about foodborne hazards could help improve students’ awareness of microbial pathogens.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/9971748
spellingShingle Mohammed AL-Mohaithef
Awareness of Foodborne Pathogens among Students: A Cross-Sectional Study in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
International Journal of Food Science
title Awareness of Foodborne Pathogens among Students: A Cross-Sectional Study in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
title_full Awareness of Foodborne Pathogens among Students: A Cross-Sectional Study in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
title_fullStr Awareness of Foodborne Pathogens among Students: A Cross-Sectional Study in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
title_full_unstemmed Awareness of Foodborne Pathogens among Students: A Cross-Sectional Study in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
title_short Awareness of Foodborne Pathogens among Students: A Cross-Sectional Study in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
title_sort awareness of foodborne pathogens among students a cross sectional study in the kingdom of saudi arabia
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/9971748
work_keys_str_mv AT mohammedalmohaithef awarenessoffoodbornepathogensamongstudentsacrosssectionalstudyinthekingdomofsaudiarabia