PurposeFoodborne diseases are common in the developing countries due to the predominant poor food handling and sanitation practices, particularly as a result of inadequate food safety laws, weak regulatory structures, and inadequate funding as well as a lack of appropriate education for food-handlers. The most frequently involved foods in disease outbreaks are of animal origin. However, in spite of the adequate legislation and laws governing the abattoir operation in Malaysia, compliance with food safety requirements during meat processing and waste disposal is inadequate. Therefore, the present study was designed to assess the food safety knowledge, attitude, and practice toward compliance with abattoir laws among the workers in Terengganu, Malaysia.Materials and methodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted using simple random sampling technique in the six districts of Terengganu: two districts were used for the pilot study and the remaining four were used for the main study. One hundred sixty-five abattoir workers from the selected districts were interviewed using a structured questionnaire.ResultsThe mean and standard deviation of knowledge, attitude, and practice scores of the workers were 6.02 and 1.954, 45.16 and 4.496, and 18.03 and 3.186, respectively. The majority of the workers (38.8%) had a low level of knowledge and 91.7% had a positive attitude, while 77.7% had a good practice of compliance. Sex had a significant association with the level of knowledge (P<0.001) and practice (P=0.044) among the workers. The females had a higher level of knowledge than the males, while the males had a better practice of compliance than females. Similarly, knowledge also had a significant (P=0.009) association with the level of practice toward compliance with abattoir laws among the workers.ConclusionThe abattoir workers had a positive attitude and good practice, but a low level of knowledge toward compliance with the abattoir laws. Therefore, public awareness, workshops, and seminars relevant to the abattoir operations should be encouraged.

PurposeThis study aims to investigate the occupational hazards among the abattoir workers associated with noncompliance to the meat processing and waste disposal laws in Terengganu State, Malaysia. Occupational hazards are the major source of morbidity and mortality among the animal workers due to exposure to many hazardous situations in their daily practices. Occupational infections mostly contracted by abattoir workers could be caused by iatrogenic or transmissible agents, including viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites and the toxins produced by these organisms.Materials and methodsThe methodology was based on a cross-sectional survey using cluster sampling technique in the four districts of Terengganu State, Malaysia. One hundred and twenty-one abattoir workers from five abattoirs were assessed using a validated structured questionnaire and an observation checklist.ResultsThe mean and standard deviation of occupational hazards scores of the workers were 2.32 (2.721). Physical, chemical, biological, psychosocial, musculoskeletal, and ergonomics hazards were the major findings of this study. However, the highest prevalence of occupational hazards identified among the workers was injury by sharp equipment such as a knife (20.0%), noise exposure (17.0%), and due to offensive odor within the abattoir premises (12.0%).ConclusionThe major occupational hazards encountered by the workers in the study area were physical, chemical, biological, psychosocial, musculoskeletal, and ergonomics hazards. To ensure proper control of occupational health hazards among the abattoir workers, standard design and good environmental hygiene must be taken into consideration all the time. Exposure control plan, which includes risk identification, risk characterization, assessment of workers at risk, risk control, workers’ education/training, and implementation of safe work procedures, should be implemented by the government and all the existing laws governing the abattoir operation in the country should be enforced.

Reducing the vector population not only organization responsible, individual itself plays as important role in dengue prevention and control. Upon the understanding of the value of baseline data, a cross-sectional study was carried out in the dengue hotspot areas in Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA). The study results show that 83.9% of the population had a high level of knowledge, 10.6% had a good attitude and 81.8% were performing good practice against dengue infection. After adjusting confounding variables, age and educational level of respondents, knowledge as well as attitude were found to be significant associated factors for having good practice against dengue. The study findings provide the need for further information to undertake a holistic approach, which is in need of community participation and cooperation.

Poor management of abattoirs results in air and water pollution especially resident’s in their close proximity. The objevtive of the study was to investigate the effect of poor management of abattoirs on the quality of life and health of residents in their vicinity. A cross sectional survey was conducted within two month period. Fifty six residents of buildings located approximately five kilometers radius to the abattoir were randomly selected for interview using questionnaire. Among the 56 residents interviewed, 20 (35.7%) were sicked. Almost half (33.9%) of the residents suspected the sickness to be related to abattoir hazards. The prevalence of diseases and symptoms experianced by the residents were typhoid fever (14.4%), Diarhoea (12.5%), Coughing (10.7%), Asthma (8.9%), Foot and Mouth Disease (7.1%) and Dengue (3.6%). The main associated factors of abattoir activities on residents ‘s health were contamination of air with pollutants (odds ratio,15.52; 95% confidence interval, 3.62-10.52), water contamination (11.44; 3.17, 12.28), gutters and drainages blockage (6.35; 1.26, 9.99) and prevention of children from outdoor activities (4.65; 1.33, 16.31). There was also reported case of food poisoning among the residents. Abattoir activities has direct and indirect negative effect on residents health who are in close proximity.

Poor management of abattoirs results in air and water pollution especially resident's in their close proximity. The objevtive of the study was to investigate the effect of poor management of abattoirs on the quality of life and health of residents in their vicinity. A cross sectional survey was conducted within two month period. Fifty six residents of buildings located approximately five kilometers radius to the abattoir were randomly selected for interview using questionnaire. Among the 56 residents interviewed, 20 (35.7%) were sicked. Almost half (33.9%) of the residents suspected the sickness to be related to abattoir hazards. The prevalence of diseases and symptoms experianced by the residents were typhoid fever (14.4%), Diarhoea (12.5%), Coughing (10.7%), Asthma (8.9%), Foot and Mouth Disease (7.1%) and Dengue (3.6%). The main associated factors of abattoir activities on residents 's health were contamination of air with pollutants (odds ratio,15.52; 95% confidence interval, 3.62-10.52), water contamination (11.44; 3.17, 12.28), gutters and drainages blockage (6.35; 1.26, 9.99) and prevention of children from outdoor activities (4.65; 1.33, 16.31). There was also reported case of food poisoning among the residents. Abattoir activities has direct and indirect negative effect on residents health who are in close proximity.