differentiate between urban and rural hygiene practices for food preparation
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Consumers’ knowledge on food safety and the related practices play a central role in reducing foodborne diseases, which represent significant concerns to public health. Objectives: This is a preliminary study to evaluate rural and urban household consumers knowledge of food safety and related practices in Ogun state, Nigeria. Similarly, awareness of food borne illnesses, and the association between the respondents’ demographic characteristics and food safety knowledge were investigated. Methods: A crossectional study, which involved a questionnaire based interview of 120 volunteers from rural and urban areas in four different local government (LGA) in Ogun State, Nigeria was conducted. Results: Overall, eighteen (15.8%, 95% CI, 10.0 – 23.7) male, and ninety-six (82.2%, 95% CI, 76.3 – 89.9) female within the age range 16 – 60 years took part in the study. Our data showed poor knowledge regarding food safety practices, and awareness of food borne illnesses among the rural and urban consumers surveyed. The level of awareness of food borne illnesses and associated complications between rural and urban household consumers was significant (p <0.05). There was an association between respondent’s marital status and knowledge of food safety and practices (p <0.001). Conclusion: Poor consumer knowledge of food safety, and food related illnesses were reported, informing the urgent need to improve on food safety education such as food handling, preparation, storage and general hygiene practices in Nigerian homes.