Innovative Journal Journal of Medical Research and Health Sciences 2589-9031 4 6 2021 6 13 Cultural and Behavioral Factors Related with Non-compliance to Hygienic Rules by Food Vendors in Primary and Secondary School in the Benoue Division - Cameroon 1 Ulrich Dama School of Health Sciences, Department of Public Health, Catholic University of Central Africa -Cameroon Antoine Socpa Centre for Applied Social Sciences, Research and Training (CASS-RT) - Cameroon Marius Nsoh National Consultant Epidemiologist at WHO - Cameroon Journal Article https://doi.org/10.15520/jmrhs.v4i6.354 Abstract Background: Unhealthy foods containing harmful bacteria, viruses, parasites, or chemicals cause illnesses ranging from diarrhea to cancer. The objective of this study was to investigate the behavioral and cultural practices responsible for non-compliance with hygiene rules by commercial food vendors in primary and secondary schools in the Benoue division of Cameroon. Based on the results obtained, we recommend to decision-makers the need to ensure a quality diet served in schools, respect for hygiene rules and the practice of regular physical activity which both contribute to the good - cognitive and mental being of children. Method: We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional analysis in the Benoue division of Cameroon. Quantitative and qualitative methods were used for data collection. Prospective data were collected from 172 food vendors within this locality. A well-structured questionnaire and an observation guide were used for data collection. Ethical approval was provided by the IRB of the Catholic University of Central Africa. Results: The results show that 57% of participants were not aware of neither practiced optimal hygiene rules. More than 78.1% of the respondents did not wash their hands before serving food. Other cultural and behavioral determinants such as cleanliness, wearing of aprons, and owning a dust bin influenced vendors' respect of hygienic rules with a significance of 05% (p <0.05). Conclusion: Our findings show that cultural and behavioral determinants factors influence the practice of hygienic rules in schools. Training these minor business owners on adequate hygienic practice will optimize respect for aseptic rules , Uçar A, Yilmaz MV, Çakıroğlu FP. Food Safety – Problems and Solutions. Significance Prev Control Food Relat Dis [Internet]. 2016 Apr 13 [cited 2020 Jun 24]; Available from: https://www.intechopen.com/books/significance-prevention-and-control-of-food-related- diseases/food-safety-problems-and-solutions Marzban, Ameneh, Rahmanian, Vahid, Shirdeli, Mehrnoosh, Barzegaran, Mehran, Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice about Food Hygiene and Safety among Food Catering Staff in Yazd, The Journal of Tolooebehdasht, 2019, 2538-1598, 1728-5127, 10.18502/tbj.v18i3.1444, Knowledge E, https://dx.doi.org/10.18502/tbj.v18i3.1444 , WHO. Food and nutrition policy for schools [Internet]. Copenhagen; 2006 p. 66. (Programme for Nutrition and Food Security WHO Regional Office for Europe). Available from: https://www.euro.who.int/ data/assets/pdf_file/0019/152218/E89501.pdf , Day RE, Sahota P, Christian MS. Effective implementation of primary school-based healthy lifestyle programmes: a qualitative study of views of school staff. BMC Public Health. 2019 Sep 9;19(1):1239. Kim, S Y, Sim, S, Park, B, Kong, I G, Kim, J-H, Choi, H G, Dietary Habits Are Associated With School Performance in Adolescents, Medicine, 2016, 12, 95, 95, Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4998375/ , UNION DES COMORES. Rapport d’enquête sur l’évaluation des connaissances et pratiques relatives à la salubrité des aliments vendus sur les lieux publics [Internet]., 2016, https://www.who.int/foodsafety/consumer/Report_Comoros.pdf , WHO. Food safety [Internet]. [cited 2020 Jun 24]. , 2018, https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/food-safety , WHO. Diarrhoeal disease [Internet]. Fact Sheet. [cited 2020 Jun 24]. , Fact Sheet, 2017, https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/diarrhoeal-disease Rane, S, Street Vended Food in Developing World: Hazard Analyses, Indian J Microbiol, 2011, 51, 1, 100, 106 Board On Children, Y, Children C On S The P Of, Y, Breiner, H, Ford, M, Parenting Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices [Internet]. Parenting Matters: Supporting Parents of Children Ages 0-8, National Academies Press, US), 2016, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK402020/ Gezehegn, Dejen, Abay, Mebrahtu, Tetemke, Desalegn, Zelalem, Hiwet, Teklay, Hafte, Baraki, Zeray, Medhin, Girmay, Prevalence and factors associated with intestinal parasites among food handlers of food and drinking establishments in Aksum Town, Northern Ethiopia, BMC Public Health, 2017, 17, 1, 819, 828, 1471-2458, 10.1186/s12889-017-4831-5, Springer Science and Business Media LLC, https://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12889-017-4831-5 , FAO. DIRECTIVES POUR LA CONCEPTION DE MESURES DE CONTROLE DES ALIMENTS VENDUS SUR LA VOIE PUBLIQUE EN AFRIQUE [Internet]. [cited 2020 Jul 26]. , http://www.fao.org/3/w6419f/w6419f06.htm Musa, O I, Akande, T M, Food hygiene practices of food vendors in secondary schools in Ilorin, Niger Postgrad Med J, 2003, 10, 3, 192, 198 Al Mamun, Mohammad, Rahman, Shah Md. Mahfuzur, Turin, Tanvir Chowdhury, Knowledge and Awareness of Children's Food Safety Among School-Based Street Food Vendors in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Foodborne Pathogens and Disease, 2013, 10, 4, 323, 330, 1535-3141, 1556-7125, 10.1089/fpd.2012.1283, Mary Ann Liebert Inc, https://dx.doi.org/10.1089/fpd.2012.1283 Monney, Isaac, Agyei, Dominic, Owusu, Wellington, Hygienic Practices among Food Vendors in Educational Institutions in Ghana: The Case of Konongo, Foods, 2013, 2, 3, 282, 294, 2304-8158, 10.3390/foods2030282, MDPI AG, https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/foods2030282 , Charles KA, SODJINOU E, Alphonse G. S. DIAGNOSTIC SOCIO-ECONOMIQUE DU SECTEUR DE L ALIMENTATION DE RUE A COTONOU - PDF Téléchargement Gratuit [Internet]. [cited 2020 Jul 4]. , 2004, https://docplayer.fr/16055101-Diagnostic-socio-economique-du-secteur-de-l-alimentation-de-rue-a-cotonou.html