Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39980317›Full record

SynthesisPrimary health care research & development2025

Food hygiene practice and associated factors among food handlers working in food establishments in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Yibeltal Assefa Atalay, Natnael Atnafu Gebeyehu, Kelemu Abebe Gelaw

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Primary health care research & development, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Yibeltal Assefa AtalaySchool of Public Health, College of Health Science and Medicine, Wolaita Sodo University, Wolaita Sodo, Ethiopia.ORCID 0009-0009-3252-8161
Natnael Atnafu GebeyehuSchool of Midwifery, College of Health Science and Medicine, Wolaita Sodo University, Wolaita Sodo, Ethiopia.
Kelemu Abebe GelawSchool of Midwifery, College of Health Science and Medicine, Wolaita Sodo University, Wolaita Sodo, Ethiopia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionFood hygiene practices are crucial to avoid foodborne illness and improve human well-being. Millions of people get sick, and many of them pass away due to eating unhealthy food. Foodborne diseases are still a public health problem in developing countries.

objectiveThis study aimed to determine the prevalence and factors associated with food hygiene practices among food handlers in sub-Saharan Africa.

methodsAn extensive search was conducted using various databases including PubMed, Science Direct, African Journal Online, and Google Scholar. The search results were then extracted using Microsoft Excel. The data analysis was conducted using STATA version 14. Publication bias was checked by funnel plot, and more objectively through Begg and Egger regression test, with P < 0.05 considered to indicate potential publication bias. A random effect model was used to calculate the pooled prevalence of hygienic food handling practices. Sub-group analysis was done by country and study site.

resultsTo estimate the pooled prevalence of food hygiene practices in sub-Saharan Africa, 42 reviewed studies and 12,367 study participants were included. The pooled prevalence of food hygiene practices among food handlers in sub-Saharan Africa was found to be 50.68% (95% CI: 45.35, 56.02) in this study. Factors associated with food hygiene practices included lack of food safety training (OR = 2.14 95% CI: 0.68, 6.76), negative attitude (OR: 2.36, 95% CI: 1.36, 4.09), and lack of regular medical checkups (OR: 2.66, 95% CI: 1.52, 4.65) among food handlers.

conclusionThis research found that only half of sub-Saharan Africa's food handlers had good food hygiene practices. Lack of food safety training, a lack of regular medical checkups, and unfavorable attitudes toward food hygiene practices were factors contributing to food hygiene practices. Thus, the authors recommended that food workers receive food safety training about food hygiene and safety procedures.

Indexed as

Foodborne DiseasesFood HandlingHealth Knowledge, Attitudes, PracticeHygieneAfrica South of the SaharaHumansFactorsfood handlersfood hygienegood practicessub-Saharan Africasystematic review

Identifiers

PMID39980317
PMCPMC11883796

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.