Food safety knowledge and self-reported practices among school children in the Ga West Municipality in Ghana

Background: Knowledge in food safety influences food safety attitudes of people which could result in behavioural changes. Inadequate knowledge in food safety among consumers, especially children, increase their risk of getting foodborne diseases. Implementing food safety educational programs in schools is key in improving the food safety knowledge of the school children. This study is aimed at assessing the food safety knowledge and practice of students in the Ga West district of Ghana. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted on food safety knowledge and practices of students in the basic schools in the Ga West District of the Greater Accra Region-Ghana. A total of 1500 questionnaires were self-administrated to students in the 104 schools. Result: Out of the 1343 respondents, 694 (51.7%) of them were female whiles 649 (48.3%) were male. The mean age of the students was 13years (Std Dev of +/- 1.9) with their ages ranging from 7 to 21 years. The food safety knowledge level of the students was inadequate with a mean score of 5.8 (std Dev +/- 1.6) representing 64.08% of the maximum total food safety knowledge score. 59.6% (801) of the students had adequate level of food safety knowledge. The food safety practice among the respondents was generally appropriate with a mean score of 36.19 (std Dev +/- 5.1) representing 80.4% of the maximum total food safety practice score. 90.2% (1211) of the students reported to be engaging in appropriate food safety practice. With the exception of the demographic characteristic 'age' and 'class' (p-value < 0.001), no statistical difference was observed in the level of food safety knowledge and practices among the various demographic characteristic of the student. There was a positive correlation between food safety knowledge and practices (coefficient of 0.2 and p-value < 0.001). Most of the students indicated that they first look out for the cleanliness of the surrounding of the vendor and then the vendors neatness before they buy or eat from a food vendor. Conclusion: Even though the food safety knowledge level of the students was inadequate, the food safety practice was generally appropriate especially their hand washing practices.