A systematic review and meta-analysis of household food safety and hygiene practices and their determinants in Africa.

BACKGROUND: Food safety is vital for public health in Africa, where foodborne diseases pose significant risks. Despite the importance of proper food handling, comprehensive data on household food safety practices across the continent is scarce. Various socioeconomic, cultural, and environmental factors may influence these practices, but their interplay is still unclear. AIM: This systematic review and meta-analysis sought to synthesize evidence on household food safety practices in Africa, with a focus on identifying the determinant factors influencing these behaviors. METHODS: Literature searches were conducted using PubMed, Embase, African Journals Online, and ScienceDirect, along with Google Scholar and citations from other studies. Keywords and medical subject-heading terms related to the study title were used. Data extraction was performed using Microsoft Excel, and meta-analysis was conducted with Stata version 18.0 using a random effect model. RESULTS: Nineteen studies were included in the systematic review, with ten meeting the criteria for meta-analysis. Overall, the pooled prevalence of respondents showing good food safety practices was 54% (95% CI: 46% to 62%). In comparison, the prevalence of good food hygiene practices varied widely, ranging from 17.6% to 86.0%. Several key factors were identified as influencing these practices, including disease awareness, the availability of latrines, handwashing facilities, liquid waste disposal pits, and workload. Furthermore, higher education levels, improved wealth status, good knowledge, and positive attitudes towards food safety were found to be crucial for enhancing household food safety practices. CONCLUSION: Half of the households in seven African countries did not practice proper food hygiene and safety. Key factors influencing practices included disease awareness, access to sanitation facilities, and workload, while understanding and positive attitudes towards food safety were essential for improvement.