Barbara Cecconi Deon - UFSM

ABSTRACT
Master’s Dissertation
Post-Graduate Program in Science and Food Technology
Federal University of Santa Maria
DIAGNOSIS OF GOOD FOOD PRACTICES IN HOUSES IN THE CITY
OF SANTA MARIA-RS
AUTHOR: BARBARA CECCONI DEON
ADVISER: LUISA HELENA RYCHECKI HECKTHEUER
Date and Place of Defense: Santa Maria, January 11, 2012.
The World Health Organization estimates that the diseases caused by contaminated
food constitute one of the most widespread sanitary problems. Currently, the food
prepared at home have had great influence on the ocurrence of outbreaks of
Diseases Transmitted by Food (DTFs), as a result of hygienic failures in the
manipulation of foods. Taking this situation into account, this work aimed to develop
and apply an education program on good practice for the manipulation of foods at
home. The present study was conducted in 615 houses distributed in the 8
Administrative Regions (AR) of the city of Santa Maria – RS, between March and
November 2011. In order to make the diagnosis, the person in charge of the
manipulation of foods at home was asked to complete a form covering personal data,
knowledge and practice of food safety. Also, a List of Evaluation of Good Practice at
Home (LEGPH) was applied to identify the level of hygienic and sanitary conditions in
home kitchens. After the diagnosis, an education program was developed using the
most popular means of communication reported by the population for a further
reapplication of the LEGPH in a third of the sample of homes with the aim of
evaluating the efficiency of this program. Through the application of the form, it was
found that the urban central region differed in most cases from the north, south,
central-west and western regions. The level of education of the interviewees
influenced on the classification of the houses, that is, the higher the level of
education, the higher the level of adequacy. After the education program, it was
verified that there was no significant difference in the level of adequacy of the houses
when compared to the first application, however, an enhancement was observed in
almost all of the items of the LEGPH. Since it is difficult to modify practices and
habits of the population with only three months of educational actions, it is suggested
the need to continue with programs on the consciousness-raising process of the
population due to the risks related to food manipulation, seeking a food safety
perspective and an improvement of the quality of life of the population.
Keywords: Diseases Transmitted by Food. Home Health Care. Good Practice for
Manipulation. Diagnosis. Evaluation List. Education.