ASSESSMENT OF KNOWLEDGE OF FOOD HYGIENE AMONGFOOD HANDLERS IN BOARDING SECONDARY SCHOOLS INNORTHWEST ZONE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study assessed the knowledge of food hygiene among food handlers in boarding secondary schools in North West Zone,
Nigeria. To achieve this purpose, the descriptive survey research design was used and the target population for this study was
1112 and also, the sample size was 470 which were drawn from four states in the North West Zone of Nigeria. The participants
were selected using multi-stage sampling techniques. A close-ended structured questionnaire based on the modified four (4)
point Likert scale was used to obtain responses from the respondents. A pilot study was carried out to test the reliability of the
instrument and statistical analysis Cronbach’s Alpha correlation coefficient of 0.88 was obtained. The 470 copies of the
questionnaire were distributed to the respondents and retrieved. Descriptive statistics of mean and standard deviation was used
to answer the research question. The formulated hypothesis was tested at a 0.05 level of significance using inferential statistics
of a one-sample t-test. The results revealed that knowledge of food hygiene among food handlers in boarding secondary schools
in Northwest Zone, Nigeria was significant (p = 0.000 < 0.05). It was concluded that the food handlers in boarding secondary
schools in the North West zone, Nigeria have good knowledge of food hygiene. The study recommended that the federal, state,
and local governments should implement comprehensive and mandatory workshops, seminars, or training programs for all
food handlers in boarding secondary schools in the Northwest Zone of Nigeria, covering essential topics like proper food
handling techniques, personal hygiene practices, sanitation procedures, and foodborne illness prevention, to enhance food
safety standards and minimize health risks for students and staff.