Competencies of food handlers of Comayagua, Siguatepeque and La Paz, February to June 2016

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to characterize the competences of the food handlers of municipalities of Comayagua, Siguatepeque and La Paz in the period February to June 2016. The study was a cross cut descriptive type with the use of Likert scales to measure sanitary measures, attitude and ability of interviewed food handlers. In the interview, the questions evaluated the grade of appropriation of knowledge of this segment of the population.  The unit of analysis were the stationary food handlers in public roads, and the observation was the knowledge, attitude and ability that the group had regarding informal economy. The sample was selected through the probabilistic stratified sampling, which resulting in 94% of food handlers had similar or equivalent knowledge, 90% of them expressed favorable ability and 95% showed favorable attitude. The health education and training processes, as part of the help to the community projects conducted by the CURC (university campus in Comayagua) had positive impact in the change of the knowledge, ability and attitude of the interviewed people.