Farmers’ knowledge, attitude and practices on prevention of aflatoxin contamination in maize grains, level of aflatoxin and their associated factors in Chamwino district, an analytical cross section study
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Date
2023
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Publisher
The University of Dodoma
Abstract
Background: Aflatoxin contamination in maize grain is a prominent public health concern as it poses an adverse health effect on society like morbidity and even death. Understanding knowledge, attitude and practices on aflatoxin health risk prevention among maize farmers as well as contamination levels and its related factors are of greater importance towards prevention and consumers’ health protection. However, this information is limited in Chamwino district in Dodoma Tanzania.
Objectives: To determine the farmers’ knowledge, attitude, and practices on prevention aflatoxin contamination in maize grains, levels of aflatoxin and their associated factors in Chamwino District, Dodoma region, Tanzania.
Methodology: The analytical cross-sectional design was employed in this study involved 316 maize farmers in Chamwino District. Survey data were collected using structured questionnaires. Furthermore, sixty-four maize samples were randomly collected from surveyed households and analyzed for levels of aflatoxin contamination using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) machine. Data were analyzed for both descriptive statistics (frequency distribution, proportions and means) and inferential statistics (Chi square, logistic and linear regression analysis)
Results: About 69 and 31 % of respondents were male and female respectively with majority (68.4%) having primary education while 5.7% had college/university. Most farmers (57.3%) possessed inadequate knowledge specifically on use of fertilizer as preventive strategy during planting 52(16.5%). Furthermore, 56% had positive attitude on prevention of aflatoxin contamination while 44% had negative attitude. More than half (55.1%) of the farmers practiced poor prevention of aflatoxin contamination practices. Levels of aflatoxin were 21.87% both for aflatoxin B1 and total aflatoxin. The adjusted coefficient of knowledge indicated significant association on practices during planting (β=0.82, p<0.001), storage (β=1.36, p<0.001) and transport (β=1.02, p< 0.001). Likewise, the adjusted coefficient of attitude on practices exhibited significant association during planting (β=0.65, p=0.004), harvesting (β=0.99, p=0.04) and storage (β=1.14, p< 0.001). Furthermore, the adjusted coefficient on prevention practices during drying (β=0.034, p=0.034) and storage (β =2.495, p=0.035) was found significantly associated with levels of aflatoxin contamination.
Conclusion: Generally, the overall findings showed that inadequate knowledge, positive attitude and poor practices of prevention of aflatoxin contamination among maize grain producers resulted to high levels of aflatoxin contamination in maize grain as predicted by Health Promotion Model used in this study. Therefore, farmers need comprehensive education on aflatoxin prevention in all its parameters from planting to storage to ensure effective reduction and prevention of aflatoxin contamination in maize grain.
Description
Dissertation (MSc in public health)
Keywords
aflatoxin contamination, an analytical cross section study, public health, High Performance Liquid Chromatography
Citation
Mathemu, Salome E. (2023) Farmers’ knowledge, attitude and practices on prevention of aflatoxin contamination in maize grains, level of aflatoxin and their associated factors in Chamwino district, an analytical cross section study (Master’s Dissertation). The University of Dodoma, Dodoma