Descriptive Analysis of Food Hygiene Practices among Rural Women in Enugu North Senatorial Zone, Enugu State, Nigeria

Abstract

Worldwide, food hygiene practice is a significant public health initiative that aids the elimination of food-related diseases in human population. The present study investigated food hygiene practices of rural women in Enugu North Senatorial Zone, Enugu State, Nigeria. It was a community-based descriptive survey research design conducted in a population of 22,261 rural women between November 2023 and July 2024. A sample size of 396 rural women was drawn using two-stage sampling technique. Data collection was completed through a researcher-designed instrument called “food hygiene practices questionnaire (FHPQ)” which demonstrated 0.88 internal consistencies. Data computation was completed using International Business Machine - Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (IBM-SPSS version 22). Frequencies and percentages were employed to answer research questions, while the null hypothesis was tested using chi-square statistics. Result was deemed significant at p value ≤ 0.05. It was revealed that 80.7% of rural women in Enugu North Senatorial Zone of Enugu State practice appropriate food hygiene. All the rural women of various family sizes (1-3 persons: 79.4%; 4-6 persons: 79.7%; and 7 persons plus: 86.5%) practice appropriate food hygiene. Statistically, no significant association was recorded on food hygiene practices of the rural women based on family size (x2 = 4.347; p = 0.114). Thus, rural women in Enugu North Senatorial Zone regardless of family size practice appropriate food hygiene. The need for collaboration between Nigerian government and concerned agencies are crucial for the sustainability of food safety and security particularly in the present study location.