RESUMO
Studies have established high prevalence of aflatoxin contamination in grains and cereals produced in Ghana. Mitigation strategies have focused mainly on capacity building for farmers, agricultural extension officers, bulk distributors and processors to the detriment of the market women who act as the final link between consumers and producers. This study used supervised machine learning algorithms by means of Classification and Regression Trees (CART) to investigate aflatoxin knowledge and awareness of market women in Greater Accra Region of Ghana. A cross-sectional survey and probability sampling methods were employed for data collection. Ninety-two (92%) of participants had never heard about aflatoxins and yet, 62% reported that they usually observe mould growth in their cereals/grains. Unsurprisingly, 97% of participants indicated that they had no knowledge of the aflatoxin bill passed by the government of Ghana parliament. Despite participants not being aware of aflatoxin menace, the percent correctness of their aflatoxin safety measure score was 40%. A regression tree algorithm showed that, participant's ethnic group was the most significant parameter to consider regarding their aflatoxin safety knowledge. Their educational background and age were 95.5% and 72.5% as significant as their ethnic group. A classification tree algorithm showed that, educational level was the most significant parameter to consider when it comes to sorting of grains/cereals. Their ethnic group and marital status were 92.4% and 89.3% as important as educational level. It is therefore imperative for the Ghana government to extend sensitization and awareness programs to these market women, targeting the uneducated and specific age and ethnic groups.
RESUMO
Com o decorrer dos anos, houve um grande aumento de empregos informais nos municípios brasileiros. Dentre eles, podem-se citar os feirantes, os quais comercializam alimentos tanto crus como manipulados, proporcionando assim, condições favoráveis para o aumento do risco de intoxicações alimentares, devido às condições higienicossanitárias desfavoráveis. Este estudo teve o objetivo de avaliar a qualidade higienicossanitária de feiras livres distribuídas na cidade de Santa Maria - RS. Foi realizada a aplicação de um checklist com 27 perguntas direcionadas ao conhecimento das Boas Práticas de Fabricação, higiene do local, higiene e vestuário dos manipuladores e higiene dos alimentos. A pesquisa foi realizada com 25 feirantes, que aceitaram participar desta pesquisa, no entanto, os resultados permitiram constatar que os feirantes carecem de mais informações sobre higiene e conscientização da importância da mesma, pois se observou que muitos deles procedem de forma errada em relação à conservação, armazenamento e exposição dos alimentos. Elaboraram-se, portanto, panfletos informativos que foram entregues aos participantes, com alguns dados importantes em relação às boas práticas e higiene de alimentos.
Within the years, there has been a substantial increase on informal jobs in Brazilian cities. Among them, we can mention the open market sellers, who commercialize raw and manipulated foods, allowing, thus, favorable conditions for the increasing risk of food poisoning, due to unfavorable hygienic-sanitarian conditions. This study has had the goal of evaluating the hygienic-sanitarian quality at open market fairs distributed in the city of Santa Maria - RS. The application of a checklist has been done, with 27 questions directed to the knowledge of Good Practices of Manufacturing, Hygiene of the Place Hygiene and Dressing of the Manipulators and Food Hygiene. The survey has been done with 25 open market sellers, who have accepted participating, however, the results indicated that the market sellers need more information about hygiene and awareness of its importance, since it has been observed that many selling places act in a wrong way concerning conservation, storage and displaying of food. Is developed so flyers that were delivered to the participants, with some important information related to best practices and food hygiene.