Educational Program about Safe Food Handling Practices among Mothers Based on Health Belief Model in Selected Villages

The primary setting for outbreaks of foodborne illness is the household. It is crucial that customers are aware of correct food handling and safety measures in their home kitchens since pathogenic germs can migrate from human hands and food contact surfaces into foods and vice versa. Aim: To evaluate the effect of educational program about safe food handling practices among mothers based on health belief model in selected villages. Methods: A quasi-experimental research design (one group pre- and post-tests) was used in the current study. Setting: The research was conducted in four villages in Minia City. Sampling: A multistage cluster sample consisting of 120 mothers was calculated using the statistical software EPI-INFO V7.2.5. Tools: Two tools were utilized to collect data: 1^st tool: part I, socio-demographic data, and part II, a self-reported practice questionnaire of mothers about safe food handling; 2^nd tool: the health belief model (HBM) food safety scale. Results: The present research showed that 60% of the studied mothers had a poor level of practice before the educational program implementation, which increased to 85% having a good level of practice in the post-test, and there were highly statistically significant differences (p-value <0.001) between pre- and post-implementation of the educational program concerning all items of the health belief model regarding safe food handling. Conclusion: There were highly statistically significant differences between pre- and post-implementation of the educational program concerning all items of practices regarding safe food handling, and there was a positive correlation between total scores of practices and the health belief model regarding safe food handling. Recommendation: Health care system should provide regular planned educational programs about safe food handling practices and include them in the component of MCH services and also conducting the same research again with a sizable sample in several community contexts