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Meta-Analysis
. 2023 Oct 31;13(1):18748.
doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-46150-8.

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

Lawrence Sena Tuglo  1 , Snehasish Mishra  2 , Ranjan K Mohapatra  3 , Nii Korley Kortei  4 , John Nsor-Atindana  4 , Henok Mulugeta  5 , Qingyun Lu  6 , Mavis Pearl Kwabla  7 , Agabus Tetteh Patu  8 , Tania Chaudhuri  9 , Jessica Dzigbordi Tuglo  10 , Subrata Narayan Das  11 , Sylvia Mawusinu Sakre  12 , Komla Sylvester Affram  13 , Alfred Doku  14
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

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

Lawrence Sena Tuglo et al. Sci Rep. .

Abstract

Foodborne diseases (FBDs) are a major public health concern, especially in Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries, such as Ghana, where poor food handling practices (FHPs) are prevalent. To estimate the pooled proportion of good FHPs and the associated factors among Ghanaian food handlers, this systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to aid scholars, practitioners and policymakers in devising FBD-preventable interventions. The scientific databases PubMed, Google Scholar, Science Direct, African Journals Online, ProQuest, and Directory of Open Access Journals were systematically searched until April 19, 2023, for relevant literature. Observational studies meeting the inclusion criteria of reported good FHPs among food handlers were included. Three authors independently searched the database, assessed the risks of bias and extracted the data from the shortlisted articles. A random-effects model with the DerSimonian and Laird model was used to estimate the pooled effect size of FHPs and the pooled odds ratio (POR) of FHP-associated factors. Out of the 2019 records collated, 33 with a total sample size of 6095 food handlers met the inclusion criteria for meta-analysis. The pooled proportion of good FHPs among Ghanaian food handlers was 55.8% [95% Cl (48.7, 62.8%); I2 = 97.4%; p < 0.001]. Lack of food safety training [POR = 0.10; 95% CI (0.03, 0.35); p = 0.001] and inadequate knowledge of food hygiene [POR = 0.36; 95% CI (0.01, 10.19); p < 0.001] were identified as the critical good FHP-associated factors. The study showed that the proportion of good FHPs among Ghanaian food handlers was 55.8%. To increase knowledge of food hygiene among food handlers, the Ghanaian Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) is recommended to provide regular training on food safety for the well-being of the general public.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
PRISMA flow diagram specifying the considerations to exclude and include the articles.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Forest plot of the proportion of good FHPs among food handlers in Ghana.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Sensitivity analysis of the proportion of good FHPs among food handlers in Ghana.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Funnel plot of studies with risk bias of the proportion of good FHPs among Ghanaian food handlers.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Forest plot of the association between lack of food safety training and good FHPs in Ghana.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Forest plot of the association between inadequate knowledge of food hygiene and good FHPs in Ghana.
Figure 7
Figure 7
The quality assurance pyramid that defines and ensures the highest order of food safety.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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