A systematic review and meta-analysis of food handling practices in Ghana vis-a-vis the associated factors among food handlers during 2009 and 2022
Scientific Reports · 15 authors, 13 centres
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This systematic review and meta-analysis pooled data from 33 studies to estimate the prevalence of good food handling practices among Ghanaian food handlers. The central finding was that 55.8% of food handlers exhibited good practices, with lack of training and inadequate knowledge identified as key associated factors.
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The primary outcome was the pooled prevalence of good food handling practices (FHPs), found to be 55.8%. Factors significantly associated with poor practices included no food safety training and inadequate knowledge of food hygiene. Subgroup analyses noted higher prevalence in studies published after 2020 and those using probability sampling. The authors acknowledge limitations including the cross-sectional design of included studies, potential social desirability bias, and lack of a standard definition for 'good FHPs'. The implications suggest that regular training from regulatory agencies could improve practices and reduce foodborne disease risk in Ghana.
