Knowledge, Attitude and Practices on Handling, Processing and Consumption of Marine Foods in Zanzibar, Tanzania

Abstract

Aims: This study was carried out with the objective of assessing knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) related to marine food associated diseases (MFADs) among fish stakeholders in Zanzibar with socio-demographic characteristics of age, education level, sex, marital status and years of primary occupation. Study Design: A cross sectional study that utilized structured questionnaire was conducted Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out in Zanzibar, Tanzania between September 2015 and March 2016. Methodology: Structured questionnaires were developed and used to collect data from 663 respondents. Each individual KAP variable was divided into 2-3 elements; elements of knowledge were on transmission, epidemiology and symptoms in humans, elements of attitude were on attitude towards threat and towards control and elements of practices were on practices of disease prevention and practices of sharing of information. Mean of the dependant variables were calculated to identify their cut off points that decided the level of the variable under question. Data was then pooled together to obtain overall knowledge, overall attitude and overall practice. Chi-square test was used to determine statistical association among KAP variables. Results: Overall attitudes, overall knowledge and overall practices were highly associated (p=0.000) with age, level of education and primary occupation. Overall practices were associated with years of primary occupation (p<0.05). Moreover, years of primary occupation was highly associated with overall knowledge. None of the pooled dependant variables had association with gender or marital status (p>0.05). Overall attitudes, overall knowledge and overall practices were all observed to be highly associated (p=0.000) with each other. Conclusion: High association on MFADs was found in this study between KAP with sociodemographic variables. Sociodemographic variables can therefore be predictors of KAP. High association observed among overall KAP variables indicates synergism and interrelation amongst them. Gaps within elements of KAP need to be addressed to improve hygiene and handling of marine foods.