Profile of food handlers in the home/Perfil de manipuladores de alimentos em domicilios

• Published in: Ciência & saude coletiva 2014-05, Vol.19 (5), p.1553
• Main Authors: Deon, Barbara Cecconi, Medeiros, Laissa Benites, Hecktheuer, Luisa Helena, Saccol, Ana Lucia de Freitas
• Format: Article
• Language: Portuguese
• ISSN: 1413-8123
• DOI: 10.1590/1413-81232014195.04892013

This article seeks to diagnose the profile of food handlers in the households of the city of Santa Maria in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. By geographical division of the city, a sample of 15 households per neighborhood was chosen, totaling 615 households. For the diagnosis of the profile of handlers in the households, a questionnaire was prepared, containing 6 open questions and 13 closed questions related to personal data including gender, marital status, education, occupation and monthly income. Issues such as the frequency with which people prepare meals in the households and satisfaction in preparing them, as well as participation in courses and the perception of food safety, were also addressed. It was found that 92.5% of the food handlers were female, 52.2% had complete or incomplete primary school and 35.4% had a monthly income of between 3 and 9 minimum wages. Among those interviewed, 82.6% reported that they prepare meals every day of the week and 77.9% reported that they never had problems caused by the food produced at home. It is important to evaluate the profile of food handlers in the households, as this makes it possible to develop strategies to prevent or diminish foodborne diseases. Key words Food handler, Food safety, Population characteristics, Foodborne diseases Resumo O objetivo deste artigo e identificar o perfil dos manipuladores de alimentos nos domicilios da cidade de Santa Maria (RS). Foi determinada uma amostra de 15 domicilios por bairro atraves da divisao geografica da cidade, totalizando 615 residencias. Para a realizacao do diagnostico do perfil dos manipuladores nos domicilios, elaborou-se um formulario sobre os dados pessoais com 6 questoes abertas e 13 fechadas incluindo o genero, estado civil, escolaridade, profissao e renda mensal, bem como questoes como a frequencia do preparo das refeicoes nos domicilios, satisfacao em prepara-las, participacao em cursos e percepcao deles sobre a seguranca dos alimentos. Verificou-se que 92,5% dos manipuladores eram do sexo feminino, 52,2% possuiam nivel de escolaridade fundamental completo ou incompleto, e 35,4% com rendimento mensal familiar de 3 a 9 salarios minimos. Dos entrevistados, 82,6% informaram que preparam as refeicoes todos os dias da semana e 77,9% relataram que nunca enfrentaram problemas ocasionados por alimentos produzidos em casa. E importante identificar o perfil dos manipuladores de alimentos nos domicilios para desenvolver estrategias para prevenir ou diminuir as