The relationship of knowledge and attitude about food sanitation and the practice of the personal hygiene requirements of food vendors in night markets under the supervised area of the 12th Prime Minister's Office of Thailand

Abstract

Introduction: Food selling at night markets tends to be unsanitary, contributing to a risk of spreadable diseases brought by water and food. A total of 11,282 cases of diarrhea were found, representing a rate of 1,137 per 100,000 population in 2016 and 1,060.58 per 100,000 population in 2018, which was a direct result of food sanitation knowledge, attitudes and behaviors of food vendors.

Methodology: This research was a cross-sectional analytical study. The sample size was calculated using a formula based on Krejcie and Morgan and a multistage randomization. The sample in this study was 268 food vendors. Data were collected by interview from the questionnaire and were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The correlation was analyzed using Chi – Square test, OR, and 95% CI, with a statistical significance level of 0.05.

Results: It was found that food sanitation attitudes were the factor affecting personal hygiene practices of food entrepreneurs in the night market under the supervised area of the Prime Minister's Office 12 of Thailand with statistical significance at the 0.05 level. The samples with good attitudes were 12.33 times more likely to comply with personal hygiene requirements than those with bad attitudes, at statistical significance, p<0.022 (95%CI = 0.86-176.95, OR = 12.33)

Suggestions: Relevant agencies should organize activities to promote food sanitation attitudes among food vendors in night markets so that people are able to fully comply with the personal hygiene requirements of food vendors in a proper and sustainable manner