Health practices among street vendors in Roxas night market

Abstract

The study aims to reveal the health practices of the street vendors in Roxas Night Market as their goods are of public consumption. We interviewed a total of fifty respondents during the dry-run. A survey was done on one hundred street vendors during the dry-run process using a self-made questionnaire to determine their practices on proper food preparation/handling, transport, and storage. Their demographic profile was also analyzed. Each respondent signed informed consent. ANOVA was used to determine any significant difference in terms of proper food preparation/handling, storage, and transport when analyzed according to their demographic profile. A T-test was utilized to identify any significant difference in their practice of proper food preparation/handling, transportation, and storage when analyzed by two choices, only such as their gender and health certification. Results showed a significant difference in proper food preparation/handling, transport, and storage according to their educational attainment, the number of years as vendors, monthly income, gender, and health certificate. Age made no significant difference. Based on the results generated, the researchers proposed several recommendations, to name a few: there must be an available handwashing area so that the street vendors can often wash their hands. A health certificate must comply with the City Health Office as well as proper monitoring must be implemented to make sure no 18 years and below is working, and for the future researchers, include microbial analysis on the street foods as well the cooking equipment. Keywords: Health Practices, Preparation/Handling, Storage, Transport