Assessing the Meat Hygiene Knowledge, Self-Reported Practices, and Compliance with Health Standards among Butchers in Clarendon, Jamaica

Abstract

This study evaluated the relationship between meat hygiene knowledge, self-reported hygiene practices, and compliance with health standards among butchers in Clarendon, Jamaica. Using a quantitative cross-sectionaldescriptive-correlation research design and convenience sampling approach, data were collected from 80 licensed butchers through a structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlations, and binary logistic regression were employed to analyze the data.Males represented 91.3% of the sample, while females accounted for only 8.8%, indicating a male-dominated industry. A moderate positive correlation was observed between self-reported hygiene practices and compliance with health standards. Binary logistic regression analysis showed that self-reported hygiene practices were a significant predictor of compliance with health standards, whereas meat hygiene knowledge was not statistically significant. The regression analysis also revealed that butchers who reported better hygiene practices were 3.7 times more likely to comply with health standards. The study concludes that practical adherence to hygiene practices has a greater impact on compliance than knowledge alone. These results highlight the need for enhanced training, routine inspections, and behavior-focused interventions to improve food safety.