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Risk factors for child food contamination in low‐income neighbourhoods of Maputo, Mozambique: An exploratory, cross‐sectional study
Journal article   Open access

Risk factors for child food contamination in low‐income neighbourhoods of Maputo, Mozambique: An exploratory, cross‐sectional study

Sarah Bick, Lauren Perieres, Lauren D'Mello‐Guyett, Kelly K Baker, Joe Brown, Bacelar Muneme, Rassul Nala, Robert Dreibelbis and Oliver Cumming
Maternal and child nutrition, Vol.16(4), pp.e12991-n/a
10/2020
DOI: 10.1111/mcn.12991
PMCID: PMC7507538
PMID: 32162452
url
https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.12991View
Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

In low‐ and middle‐income countries, food may be a critical transmission route for pathogens causing childhood diarrhoea, but basic food hygiene is often overlooked in public health strategies. Characterising child food contamination and its risk factors could help prioritise interventions to reduce foodborne diarrhoeal disease, especially in low‐income urban areas where the diarrhoeal disease burden is often high. This cross‐sectional study comprised a caregiver questionnaire coupled with food sampling, and food preparation observations, among the study population of an ongoing sanitation trial in Maputo. The aim was to determine the prevalence of child food contamination and associated risk factors. The prevalence of Enterococcus spp., as an indicator of faecal contamination, was estimated in food samples. Risk factor analyses were performed through zero‐inflated negative binomial regression on colony counts. A modified hazard analysis and critical control point approach was used to determine critical control points (CCPs) that might effectively reduce risk. Fifty‐eight linked caregiver questionnaires and food samples were collected, and 59 food preparation observations were conducted. The prevalence of enterococci in child foods exceeding 10 colony forming units per gram was 53% (95% confidence interval [40%, 67%]). Risk factors for child food contamination were identified, including type of food, food preparation practices, and hygiene behaviours. CCPs included cooking/reheating of food and food storage and handling. This exploratory study highlights the need for more research into diarrhoeagenic pathogens and foodborne risks for children living in these challenging urban environments.
 low‐income countries child feeding diarrhoea children infectious disease complementary foods

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