Abstract:
Poor meat hygiene practices are a major cause of food borne diseases which has led to morbidity and mortality globally.
The World Health Organization estimates that over 600 million foodborne illnesses and 420 million deaths worldwide
are due to poor hygiene practices in the meat sector, with the developing countries carrying the brunt of this load.
The situation in Uganda is not much different from the global statistics and many studies have been undertaken
especially in the capital city Kampala on butcher hygiene. What was still unknown is the situation in the many peri urban
centers around the country which are having rising population and host many residences. This study was therefore
carried out in Kasangati town council, Wakiso district, Uganda, to specifically establish the level of adherence to meat
hygiene practices among butcher operators, identify the factors affecting adherence to meat hygiene practices and
identify the relationship between these factors in this per-urban center in a developing country.
Results of this study show that education level of butcher operators; availability of functional waste disposal tank in a
butcher premises; availability and use of hand gloves were significantly associated with adherence to meat hygiene
practices among the butcher operators. The study also found out that a large percentage (65.7%) of the butcher
operators were not adhering to meat hygiene practices. This low adherence to the above factors which are significantly
associated with meat hygiene practices inevitably contributes to contamination of meat and spread of meat borne
diseases in this town.
The paper concludes by recommending a more effective law enforcement and education and awareness by the public
health authorities and making a practical monitoring and evaluation regime to reduce non adherence and increase
adherence to meat hygiene practices.
