The Participation in Improving Food Sanitation in Schools in Mueang District, Phetchabun Province.

Abstract

This action research aimed to develop processes and evaluate the outcomes of participatory approaches in improving food sanitation in schools in Mueang District, Phetchabun Province. The study was conducted in 9 schools, covering 72 food outlets, involving a total of 81 participants including food vendors, school health teachers, and school administrators. Research instruments included questionnaires on food sanitation knowledge, personal hygiene behavior assessment, focus group discussions, and coliform bacteria contamination testing in food, utensils, and food handlers' hands. The findings revealed that the research process was divided into four phases: Planning phase involved coordinating with relevant agencies, collecting baseline data, and analyzing information to prepare action plans. Implementation phase conducted focus group discussions to identify solutions, followed by activity implementation based on the developed plans. Observation phase evaluated project success over a 3-month period. Post-intervention results showed that participants had significantly higher levels of food sanitation knowledge and personal hygiene behaviors (p < 0.001). Additionally, coliform bacteria contamination in food and equipment was notably reduced. The participation of all relevant stakeholders contributed to the concrete success of the activities. Reflection phase involved providing feedback on study results to stakeholders. This study recommends expanding the approach to other areas and continuously supporting community participation in school food sanitation management.