Abstract:
The study assessed food hygiene knowledge, attitudes and practices of students on
microbial quality of some selected canteen food, a study of Gambaga College of
Education in east Mamprusi Municipality of North-east Region. The study used a cross sectional descriptive design to assess food hygiene knowledge, attitudes and practices
of students on microbial quality of some selected canteen food. Data was collected
using proportionate convenience sampling technique to select respondents. Primary
data was collected by the use of structured questionnaire. The study established that: the
presence of potential microbial agents which could cause serious gastrointestinal
infection. These isolated microorganisms included salmonella typhi, Escherichia coli,
Staphylococcus aureus and fecal coliforms. And this is attributable to the common
diseases like: diarrhoea, typhoid, malaria and dysentery. Time and money is wasted in
treating these diseases and that affect their studies. Respondents 113(71.5%) strongly
agreed that food poisoning is cause by pathogens. With this knowledge they were
extremely cautious with in food handling. Most 90(57.0%) strongly dissatisfied with
resources available in the school canteen. They claimed that the few available resources
like the refrigerator, cooking and eating utensils are absolute. Respondents agreed that
it was important to wash hands right after unhygienic practices and this should among
both the food vendors and the eaters. The probit regression analysis shows that;
knowledge on presence of pathogens in food, kitchen environment, nature of storage
facilities in the school canteen, caution of their health statuses and source of vegetables
and fruits significantly influence the dependent variable (food hygiene knowledge,
attitudes and safety practices). Education should be done in collaboration with Ministry
of Education in conjunction with Gambaga Municipal Assembly to regularly inspect
schools to test quality of foods in the school canteen and common markets in and
around school environment.
Description:
A Thesis in the Department of HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM EDUCATION,
Faculty of VOCATIONAL EDUCATION, submitted to the School of Graduate
Studies, University of Education, Winneba, in partial fulfillment of the
requirements for the award of the Master of Philosophy
(Catering and Hospitality) degree.
