![]() ![]() Food can become contaminated through high ambient storage temperatures, lack of refrigeration, poor food storage facilities, environmental fecal contamination, and too low temperature. Some barriers preventing cleaning are difficult-to-clean household surfaces water scarcity. The transfer of pathogens into prepared meals is exacerbated by a lack of thoroughly washing contaminated hands after defecation of the child and caregiver, and after cleaning areas and items touched by child feces, as well as the lack of cleaning utensils used before, during and after meal preparation. Food preparation actions to prevent foodborne contamination include thorough initial cooking and reheating of food, in terms of both temperature and time limiting the time cooked food is stored at ambient temperature to less than 4 h washing utensils and handwashing with soap before and during food preparation and before feeding children. Since bacteria, viruses, and parasites are invisible, people may disbelieve their existence, negatively affecting behaviors related to optimal food and hygiene habits. ![]() Unsafe food can contain harmful bacteria, viruses, parasites, and chemical substances which cause many diseases including diarrhea. ![]() Exposure to food contaminants can occur due to inadequate handwashing habits, food handling, preparation, storage, and oversites during cultivation, harvest, and transportation to the household. Poor water, sanitation, and hygiene practices, including food hygiene, contribute to poor childhood nutrition through the ingestion of microbes that cause diarrhea. 45% of all deaths of children under five in low and middle-income countries are linked to undernutrition, and 61.4 million children in Africa were stunted in 2020. In low-income contexts, malnutrition is a critical factor in the morbidity and mortality of children under five years. Our study revealed several knowledge and opportunity barriers that could be integrated into interventions to enhance food hygiene. Conclusionįood hygiene is an underexplored, but potentially critical, behavior to mitigate fecal pathogen exposure for young children. Competing priorities, socio-cultural norms, religion, and time constraints due to work hindered the practice of optimal food hygiene and preparation behaviors. Other barriers were opportunity-related, including lack of resources (soap, water, firewood) and an enabling environment (monetary decision-making power, social support). Barriers to food hygiene and preparation practices included lack of psychological capability, for instance, caregivers’ lack of knowledge of critical times for handwashing, lack of perceived importance of washing some foods before eating, and not knowing the risks of storing food for more than four hours without refrigerating and reheating. Caregivers had the capability to wash their hands at critical times wash, cook, and cover food and clean and dry utensils. Resultsįacilitators and barriers to food hygiene and preparation practices were found across the COM-B domains. We mapped the qualitative and observational data onto the COM-B framework to understand caregivers’ facilitators and barriers to food preparation and hygiene practices. We conducted 24 focus group discussions with mothers ( N = 12), fathers ( N = 6), and grandmothers ( N = 6) 29 key informant interviews with community stakeholders including implementing partners and religious and community leaders and 24 household observations. We used the Capabilities, Opportunities, and Motivations model for Behavior Change (COM-B) framework in tool development and analysis. We explored food preparation and hygiene determinants including food-related handwashing habits, meal preparation, cooking practices, and food storage among caregivers of children under age two in Western Kenya. Understanding the barriers and facilitators to hygienic food preparation can inform interventions to improve food hygiene. Food contamination from improper preparation and hygiene practices is an important transmission pathway for exposure to enteric pathogens. Diarrhea is a leading cause of child morbidity and mortality worldwide and is linked to early childhood stunting. ![]()
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