Abstract:

This descriptive cross-sectional study assessed various hygiene practices among 250 Babcock University cafeteria workers, and the hygienic condition of the working environment. Most of the respondents, 126 (50.4%) were ever married, females 146 (58.4%), Christians 208 (83.2%) and of the Yoruba ethnic group, 128 (51.2%). Result findings revealed that 226(90.4%) respondents had good knowledge of food hygiene, and 206(82.4%) knew that protective wears reduce the risk of food contamination and accidents in the cafeteria. However, 167(66.8%) of the respondents were not aware that virus causes food contamination. Only 83(33.2%) of the respondents indicated that they clean their working environment two times a day while 41(16.4%) of the respondents clean once a day meaning majority of the respondents, 126 (51.4%) do not clean regularly resulting in a questionable working environment. Findings also show that only 60 (24%) respondents use personal protective equipment (PPE) any time they are in the cafeteria while 104 (41.6%) make use of PPE when preparing and serving food. Bi-variate (Chi-square test statistics) analysis revealed significant relationships between attitude and age (p= 0.05); hygiene level of working environment and tribe (p=0.008); level of hygiene practices versus marital status (p=0.035) and tribe (p=0.001); level of use of PPE versus marital status (p=0.006) and knowledge of respondents (p=0.001). The study concluded that though workers in Babcock University cafeteria have satisfactory level of knowledge and good attitude towards food hygiene practices, their level of environmental hygiene practices are not adequate. Recommendations include training programs to re-orientate the workers on proper environmental hygiene practices and daily work environment inspections.

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