Effect of Food Safety Training on Achieving Good Hygiene Practices in Restaurants in the Emirates of Dubai

Food safety,specifically in restaurants,is becoming a key public health priority because of the increased number of meals eaten outside the home.Foodborne illness prevention thus is a significant concern and a public health priority in the United Arab Emirates,particularly Dubai,because of the extensive tourism industry.The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of using demonstrations in training sessions to improve food safety knowledge and practices amongst food handlers.A descriptive and quantitative approach has been applied to collect the quantifiable information related to the research study.This has been further analyzed using the correlation tests to gather the required data.On comparison of the pre-test scores between the intervention and the control group,the t-test analysis showed significant difference in the level of food safety knowledge between the two groups.Pre-test score for the control group was 78.33 and post-test score was 104.66.In the case of the intervention group,pre-test score was 91.37 and post-test score was 130.75.The scores of food handlers’food safety practice for control group:pre-treatment score was 470 and post-treatment score was 646.For intervention group:pre-test score was 723 and post-test score was 1,056.The study concluded that training with demonstration techniques is an effective way of improving compliance with food safety guidelines.It has been understood that training helps in improving the performance of the employees while reducing the foodborne diseases and maintaining hygiene in the food.The study recommends every restaurant needs to provide regular trainings to the employees so that the restaurants can maintain hygiene and food safety practices.

Assessment of Knowledge of the Relationship between Periodontal Disease and Systemic Disease among Dental Students and Its Impact on Oral Hygiene Practices

Background: Dental students play a role in both oral and general health education in their communities, so it is important that they have good knowledge to enable them offer good counsel. Knowing the relationship between periodontal disease and systemic conditions will put them in better stead when giving oral health education. The aim of this study was to assess the level of knowledge among dental students of the relationship between periodontal diseases and systemic conditions, and to determine whether there was a correlation between this knowledge and their oral hygiene practices. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study among dental students of the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. Consenting participants were given a self-administered questionnaire eliciting socio-demographic information, knowledge about the relationship between periodontal diseases and systemic diseases, as well as oral hygiene practices. Each correct response on knowledge was scored as 1, while incorrect responses were scored 0, with a maximum score of 7. Participants’ knowledge was graded as poor (0 - 2), fair (3 - 5) and good (6 - 7). Data was analyzed using IBM SPSS version 21. p ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Spearman’s ranked correlation was used to assess the correlation between knowledge of the relationship between periodontal diseases and systemic diseases and oral hygiene practices. Results: There were 109 dental students (58 males, 51 females) in this study, with a mean age of 24.1 ± 3.6 years. Preclinical students were 43 (39.4%) while clinical students were 66 (60.6%). All (100%) participants knew that oral health was important to systemic health, with 89.9% knowing that periodontal disease was specifically linked to systemic disease. Only 50.5% of participants knew that there was a link between periodontal disease and diabetes mellitus. Sixty-four (58.7%) of the participants regularly cleaned in between their teeth. The most commonly used interdental cleaning aid was toothpick (45.0%). Clinical students had significantly better knowledge on the relationship between periodontal disease and systemic disease compared to pre-clinical students (p = 0.001). There was positive correlation between knowledge about periodontal disease and its link with systemic disease and better oral hygiene practices, but this was not statistically significant. Conclusion: The majority of dental students had a fair knowledge about the relationship between periodontal diseases and systemic diseases.

Intimate hygiene practices and reproductive tract infections: A systematic review

Introduction:Worldwide,women perform a variety of vaginal practices to enhance their intimate hygiene and sexual health.Objective:To conduct a systematic review to assess the different kinds of intimate hygiene practices and their association with reproductive tract infections and complications.Methods:PubMed,Medline and The Cochrane Library were used.Both observational and interventional studies targeting the urogenital infections and their association with hygiene practices were included.Exclusion criteria included studies that assessed the knowledge and attitudes towards intimate hygiene practices rather than their relation to infections.The design of this systematic review complied with the guidelines of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis(PRISMA).Results:Fifteen articles were included.Intravaginal practices were found to be associated with reproductive tract infections.Reusable absorbent material used during menstruation increased the risk of Candida infection with an adjusted proportional reported ratio(aPRR)of 1.54(95%CI 1.2–2.0),but no association with bacterial vaginosis or trichomonas vaginalis infection was noted.Bathing or vaginal washing during menstruation with water only showed a higher association with symptoms of urogenital infections when compared with washing with both soap and water during menstruation.Drying reusable pads inside the house and storing them inside the toilet was found to be associated with a higher candida infection prevalence.Moreover,bathing in sitting position during menstruation,not drying the genital area or using cloth for drying it,and not paying attention to hand washing,were all associated with a higher risk of genital infections.Finally,postpartum use of native homemade vaginal preparations might be a risk factor for ascending vaginal infections,and the use of inappropriate material for menstrual blood absorption was associated with secondary infertility.Conclusion:Several hygiene practices put women at higher risk for reproductive tract infections.We should continue to increase awareness to counter the misinformation resulting from marketing campaigns and common misconceptions.

Assessment of Knowledge,Attitudes and Practices of Food Handlers in Attieke Production Units in Relation to Food Hygiene and Safety in Cote d’Ivoire in 2012

The aims of this study were to investigate the food safety knowledge and practices of food handlers and to assess the sanitary conditions of attieke production units in the South of C?te d’Ivoire. A cross-sectional study was conducted during 4 months in 2012 in 7 localities and data were collected using questionnaire and observation checklist and microbiological analysis of hands. A total of 775 attieke production units were involved in this survey. Seventy-one percent (71%) were located on public domains and only 70 production units (9%) used septic tank as a mean of final deposal for liquid waste. Hygiene conditions and practices of food handlers in attieke production units were inadequate. The presence of specific microorganisms such as Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterobacter agglomerans, Citrobacter youngae, Klebsiella oxytoca and Citrobacter freundi was indicative of a degree of ignorance on the part of food handlers towards proper hygienic practices.

Challenges Associated with Menstrual Hygiene among Adolescent Girls Attending Bocharia Primary School in Nyamira County, Kenya

Background: Approximately, half a million of adolescent girls in the world feel frustrated during their monthly period due to poor menstrual hygiene practices. In the low-and-middle income countries, about three-quarters of girls do not have access to clean sanitary materials, and use low-quality products. In the Sub-Saharan African countries, menstruation among school-age girls is a neglected issue. Poor menstrual hygiene practices expose adolescent girls to reproductive organ infections, psychosocial stress, and poor school attendance. However, the available data concerning challenges associated with menstrual hygiene among school girls in the remote areas of Kenya remains unknown. Aim: To assess challenges associated with menstrual hygiene among adolescent girls attending Bocharia Primary School in Nyamira County, Kenya. Methods: The target population was grade 4 to 8 adolescent girls (n = 111) aged 10 - 19 years. Hence, census method of sampling was used to include all the girls in grade 4 - 8. Raw data was obtained using a Semi-structured questionnaire which was tested by a representation of 11 girls (10% of the sample size) who had the same characteristics. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 21 with both descriptive and inferential statistics. In descriptive statistics, frequency and percentage were generated. The chi-square test of independence was used to determine associations between some socio-demographic variables of the girls and menstrual hygiene practice. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered to be significant. Results: The study found that majority (57%) of the respondents had poor menstrual hygiene practices associated with lack of accessibility and affordability to sanitary products, functional and safe latrines, shortage of soap and water supply, and sanitation facilities. Approximately half (47.8%) of the respondents reported that menstrual hygiene practices are highly influenced by taboo from cultural beliefs and societal norms. Girls who live with both parents were more likely (73.3%) to wash their body with water and soap during monthly bleeding as compared to those girls from single mother (64.7%) and those who live or grand Mothers (42.9%). The toilets or latrines that were allocated to the girls were unlockable, which threatens privacy and safety of the girls. Conclusions: Most of the school girls had poor menstrual hygiene practices associated with lack of sanitary products, safe and functional latrines, adequate water supply, soaps and sanitation facilities. Adequate attention to menstrual hygiene management should be given by the water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) program, education sectors, and sexual and reproductive health programs.

Hygienic Production Practices and Microbial Quality of Cow Milk in Cheha District of Gurage Zone, Southern Ethiopia

The aim of the study was to assess hygienic production practices and to evaluate microbial quality of raw cows’ milk in Cheha district of Gurage Zone, Southern Ethiopia. The study was conducted by interviewing 180 smallholder milk producers from two agro-ecologies (highland and midland) and by collecting 40 milk samples from milk producers, small shops, cafes and consumers for microbial quality analysis. The result indicated that majority of the respondents (96.7%) did not have cow barn and milking area, 57.3% of them clean their barn once and more than once a week. Moreover, milking without hand washing, absence of udder washing, failure to use towel to clean the udder, and use of plastic pail as milking equipment were practiced by 33.9%, 52.2%, 74.4% and 95.6% of the respondents, respectively. Furthermore, higher number of respondents (69.4%) used river water without proper treatment as a major source of water for cleaning purpose and majority of them fail to regularly clean utensils with detergents. Concerning microbial quality, overall mean total bacterial counts (TBC), Coliform counts (CC) and pH values of milk from current finding were 5.675 ± 0.016, 4.414 ± 0.017 log10 cfu/ml, and 5.963 ± 0.081, respectively. In general, overall quality of milk produced as well as marketed in the study area was poor. These were justified from poor hygienic practices and high values of TBC and CC that were significantly higher than the acceptable limits set by Ethiopian Standards for unpasteurized milk. Therefore, adequate sanitary and control measures should be taken at all stages from production to consumer level to produce and supply wholesome milk.

Dietary Habits and Oral Hygiene Practice amongst Dental Students at the College of Dentistry, Princess Nourah University

The aim of the present study was to assess the dietary habits and oral hygiene practice of dental students in a new dental school. A self-administered structured closed-ended questionnaire on demographic characteristics, medical history, oral hygiene and dietary habits was distributed to dental students. Results showed that One third of students indicated that they don’t consume low pH beverages (soft drinks) at all, while 48.9% drink a soft drink or two a day. Students took varying amount of time to consume their drinks. The majority of participants consumed citric juices, fruits and/or pickles at least once a day. 91.3% of students use either soft (41.8%) or medium (49.5%) toothbrush. Only a fifth (16.9%) of the students brush their teeth after drinking soft drinks and 58.2% brush their teeth after vomiting. In conclusion, young adults need to be aware about their dietary habits & oral hygiene, and also a proper dental health program needs to be applied.

Implementation of Food Safety Legislation in Catering Establishments in Latvia

The aim of the research was to evaluate overall quality of introduction of hazard analysis and critical control points （HACCP） prerequisites and HACCP procedures in catering sector in Latvia to reveal common problems that can provoke food-borne infection outbreaks. Certain quantitative indicators were defined and analyzed to conclude about characteristic trends related to implementation of food safety legislation. The state＇s monitoring data on surveillance of catering establishments were used. Fulfillment of legislative requirements in about 6,000 catering establishments was evaluated during time period of 2004-2009. The results of investigation were obtained with help of statistical analyses using MS Excel computer program. The results of the research suggest that most of catering establishments （e.g., 83.6% during 2009） meet the hygiene requirements only partly. Non-conformities regarding HACCP-based self-control procedures were fixed during 49.2% of inspections. The research reveals characteristic shortcomings that are established from year to year, e.g., improper hygiene of premises （established during 30%-40% of inspections, depending on the year）, poor hygiene of technological equipment （established during 27%-37% of inspections）, poor personnel hygiene （established during 11%-22% of inspections）, inadequate competence of food service personnel （established during 10%-35% of inspections）, as well as non-observance of cleaning-disinfection procedures and technological parameters for food processing （established during 11%-25% of inspections, depending on the year）. Actual shortcomings can lead to both the direct and the indirect cross-contamination of food. On the base of the research, it was concluded that further detailed assessment of potential food safety risks is relevant to establish risk-based monitoring activities in catering sector.

Microbiological assessment of street foods at the point of sale in Maputo(Mozambique)

Objectives:The aim of this study was to assess the microbiological quality and safety of street food sold in the main streets and informal markets of Maputo,the capital of Mozambique.Materials and Methods:From 83 different vendors selling different types of foods,83 samples of ready-to-eat(RTE)street food were analyzed.Mesophiles,Escherichia coli and total coliforms were used as quality and hygiene indicators.Listeria monocytogenes(L.monocytogenes)Salmonella and coagulase-positive staphylococc were used as food safety indicators.Results:High proportions of unsatisfactory food samples were found in both traditional hot(76.7%)and cold(75%)foods.L.monocytogenes and Salmonella were tested negative in this survey.However,when coagulase-positive staphylococci was used as a food safety indicator,approximately 25%(23/83)of the food samples analyzed were classified as unsatisfactory/potentially hazardous.Conclusions:These results,showing that street food sold in Maputo clearly requires adequate sanitary conditions for its preparation and sale,contribute to the development of good manufacturing practices(GMP)for street food in Maputo,Mozambique.This is the first report on the microbiological quality and safety of street food in Mozambique.

An integrative approach to enhancing small-scale poultry slaughterhouses by addressing regulations and food safety in northern -Thailand

Background:In Asian countries,small-scale rural poultry meat production can face challenges due to food safety policies that limit economic growth and hinder improvement of sanitation and disease prevention.In this study,an integrative,participatory research approach was used to elucidate the sanitation and disease prevention practices in small-scale poultry slaughterhouses in rural northern Thailand.Methods:Initial steps included the identification of key stakeholders associated with the meat production chain,development of a research framework,and design of a methodology based on stakeholder consultations.The framework and methodology combine issues in five major areas:(1)public health,(2)socioeconomics,(3)policy,(4)veterinary medicine,and(5)communities and the environment.Methods used include questionnaires,direct observation,focus groups,and in-depth interviews.In addition,a microbiological risk assessment approach was employed to detect Salmonella contamination in meat processing facilities.The microbial risk assessment was combined with stakeholder perceptions to provide an overview of the existing situation,as well as to identify opportunities for upgrading slaughterhouses in order to more effectively address matters of food safety,processing,and government licensing.Results:The conceptual framework developed elucidated the complex factors limiting small-scale slaughterhouse improvement including a lack of appropriate enabling policies and an apparent absence of feasible interventions for improvement.Unhygienic slaughterhouse management was reflected in the incidence of Salmonella contamination in both the meat and the surrounding environment.Conclusion:There is potential for the use of an integrative approach to address critical problems at the interface of rural development and public health.The findings of this study could serve as a model for transdisciplinary studies and interventions related to other similar complex challenges.