Assessment of Butchers Attitudes and Practices Toward Food Safetyin Thi-Qar governorate in Iraq

Objectives: To assess of attitudes and practice of butchers in Thi-Qar governorate regarding food safety and to find out any association of different variables with practices and attitudes. Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study to assess the attitudes and practices of butchers. The data collection extended from the February 2018 and April 2018 each. The sample of (57) butchers was selected from (26) small slaughter houses in Thi-Qar governorate who agreed to participate were included in this study. Results: A total of fifty seven (57) butcherswere selected as a sample size for this study. 46(80.7%) were in the age of <30 and from the urban area. Most of butchers interviewed were married (52.6%). Based on length of experience of butchers, The highest proportion of them) 59.6%) were in the length of experience(≤5) and the highest percentage of butchers were in the level of intermediate (31.6%). The overall attitudes and practices on food safety was poor, (67%) and (91%) respectively. Conclusions: There was high poor attitudes of food safety in of butchers. As an overall, nearly three quarters of the butchers having poor practice scores relating to food safety.