Conhecimentos, atitudes, práticas e percepção de risco de doenças de transmissão hídrica e alimentar: estudo com manipuladores de alimentos de Laranjeiras do Sul – Paraná

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the self-reported Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP) and the perception of risk of Disease Transmitted by Water and Food (DTWF), from the perspective of food handlers from small establishments located in Laranjeiras do Sul-PR. Data collection was carried out with the application of a questionnaire through interviews, with initial questions about the sociodemographic profile of the participants, followed by KAP questions and risk perception of DTWF. The research was carried out with 30 food handlers, being linked to 14 Individual Micro Entrepreneurs (IME) establishments and 6 small companies, totaling 20 locations. In this study, 66.7% of the participants had participated in the Good Food Handling Practices course. The overall average of knowledge was 84.7%, considered sufficient. Regarding knowledge, 60% of respondents were unaware that smell and taste cannot be used as parameters to assess whether the food is suitable for consumption. Regarding the defrosting of food at refrigeration temperature, 76.7% of the handlers interviewed were aware of this appropriate attitude, 90% agreed that it should be done this way to prevent illness to the consumer, but most participants 76.7% did not carried out in daily practice and 53.4% of handlers had a perception of risk between very low and regular, in relation to thawing food. This result demonstrated that knowledge and attitude were not translated into practices and the handlers had a low risk perception of DTWF. Thus, it is necessary to carry out periodic training in good handling practices, in order to improve the handlers' knowledge about the correct handling of food and, mainly, to increase the risk perception and motivate positive attitudes and adequate practices for the production of safe food, in the village.