Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Food Safety and Hygiene Among Street Food Vendors in Bauchi State, Nigeria: A Cross-Sectional Study
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Introduction: Street food vending is central to food security in Nigeria but poses significant public health risks. This study assessed the Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice (KAP) of food safety among street food vendors in Bauchi State and examined associations with socio-demographic and infrastructural factors.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey recruited 440 active street food vendors across six Local Government Areas (LGAs) using multistage sampling. Data were collected via a validated structured questionnaire (Cronbach’s α = 0.78) and analysed with SPSS v26. KAP levels were classified as “Good” or “Poor” using subscale midpoint thresholds. Chi-square and Pearson correlation tests were applied (α = 0.05). Ethical approval: SZU/ETH/2024/007.
Results: The sample was predominantly male (60.7%) and young (38.6% aged 26–35 years). Good knowledge (91.1%) and positive attitudes (85.0%) were prevalent; however, 62.3% exhibited poor hygiene practices. Access to clean water (p = 0.048) and sanitation facilities (p = 0.031) were most significantly associated with good practice. Knowledge and attitude showed moderate positive correlations with practice (r = 0.32 and r = 0.31; both p < 0.05).
Conclusion: Poor food safety practices persist despite high knowledge and positive attitudes, primarily due to infrastructural deficits. Interventions should prioritise clean water and sanitation provision at vending sites, combined with targeted training.
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