Behavior of the Chilean population in good hygiene practices

Foodborne diseases cause a high burden of morbidity, with a greater occurrence in home environments. The objective of the study is to associate habits related to good hygiene practices with sociodemographic variables in a representative sample of the Chilean population. Secondary analysis study, conducted from the National Health Survey (NHS) 2016-2017, where the questions of good hygiene practices were analyzed. The sample contemplates 6,233 participants, of which 62.8% corresponds to female sex. It was identified that women have better hygiene habits in food handling compared to men. On the other hand, adults aged 45-64 years and over 65 years had better habits related to food safety than other age groups. In conclusion, sociodemographic variables such as sex, age and educational level are determining factors in good hygiene practices. The population should be educated in food handling to ensure food safety. © 2024 Sociedad Chilena de Nutrición, Bromatología y Toxicología.