Browsing by Author "Male, Denis"

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    Food Safety Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of Food Handlers along the Rice Value Chain of Uganda
    (Journal of Food Industry, 2022) Namubiru, Leatitiah; Male, Denis; Muzira Mukisa, Ivan; Byenkya Byaruhanga, Yusuf
    Food handlers play a critical role in controlling food contamination from “farm to fork”. Therefore, inadequate knowledge, poor attitudes and improper practices by food handlers pose a serious challenge to food safety. The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of food handlers along the rice value chain of Uganda with the view of understanding factors that influence contamination of rice with aflatoxins, heavy metals and pesticides. A cross-sectional study, using a structured questionnaire through face-to-face interviews with 252 respondents was conducted in Butaleja, Gulu, Hoima, Kampala, Mutukula, Mbale and Mbarara districts. Categorical data was expressed as frequencies and percentages. The unique predictors of the KAP of rice handlers were defined using multivariate linear regression analysis. About 221 (87.7%) food handlers knew about the occurrence and causes of aflatoxins contamination in rice. Changes in colour (81.7%) and a musty smell (82.9%) were perceived to indicate the presence of aflatoxins. The main preand post-harvest aflatoxin preventative practices identified were growing resistant rice varieties (82.9%) and proper drying (79.8%). Food handlers were generally not knowledgeable (73.4%) about heavy metal contamination in rice. All food handlers used pesticides; however, 68.3% had never received formal training in pesticide use. Majority (86.1%) of food handlers were aware of the harmful effects of pesticides but on the contrary, this did not significantly change their practices towards safe pesticide use. At multivariate level, education was the unique predictor for aflatoxins and heavy metal contamination. Pesticide contamination was mainly influenced by district of residence. Therefore, appropriate educational programs organized to train food handlers can promote food safety in the rice value chain of Uganda. Interventions by regulatory agencies to strengthen enforcement of laws related to contaminants through regular surveillance at the farm and retail outlets are necessary to ensure compliance by food handlers.
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    Influence of food safety knowledge, attitudes and practices of processors on microbiological quality of commercially produced traditional fermented cereal beverages, a case of Obushera in Kampala
    (Food Control, 2019) Byakika, Stellah; Muzira Mukisa, Ivan; Byenkya Byaruhanga, Yusuf; Male, Denis; Muyanja, Charles
    Traditionally, fermented foods were only consumed in regions of their origins but owing to increasing demand, some are finding their way into foreign markets. The challenge though, is the generally uncontrolled nature of the fermentations which raises safety concerns. This paper highlights the food safety challenges associated with traditional fermented foods with a special focus on commercially produced and packaged Obushera, a Ugandan traditional fermented cereal beverage. Microbial counts, titratable acidity (TA) and pH of Obushera samples (n=59) were determined. Food safety knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) of processors (n=47) were also evaluated. About 50% of samples did not conform to safety requirements. Obushera had 0.0–7.3 log cfu/mL total and thermo-tolerant coliforms, 0.0–6.2 log cfu/mL E. coli and 0.0–8.1 log cfu/mL Staphylococcus spp. Flour samples had 3.7–7.3 log cfu/g total coliforms, 3.2–7.1 log cfu/g thermo-tolerant coliforms, 1.0–4.9 log cfu/g E. coli and 2.4–7.3 log cfu/g Staphylococcus spp. Salmonella spp was not detected. Obushera (56 out of 59 samples) with pH≤4.0 and TA=0.1–3.1% had coliforms and Staphylococcus spp above the recommended minimum values. Scores showed that processors had fairly good knowledge (63.0 ± 2.3%) and attitudes (52.2 ± 3.0%) but poor practices (38.7 ± 2.4%). There was no correlation between the KAP and product quality. Therefore, processors should adopt better processing technologies that enhance food safety. There is also need for enforcement and regulation of food safety by concerned authorities. Trainings for processors should aim at positively changing their attitudes and causing them to adopt appropriate practices.
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    Smokeless Tobacco in Uganda: Perceptions among Tobacco Control Stakeholders
    (MDPI AG, 2022-03) Male, Denis; Kansabe, Shirley; Lukwata, Hafsa; Rubanga, Alexander; Siddiqi, Kamran; Bauld, Linda; McNeill, Ann; Dobbie, Fiona
    Abstract The use and sale of smokeless tobacco (SLT) is prohibited in Uganda under the Tobacco Control Act (TCA), 2015. Nonetheless, SLT products remain available, and there are limited and inconsistent data on SLT users. Additionally, the perceptions of tobacco control stakeholders on SLT are unknown, making it difficult to determine barriers to enforcing the ban. This study examined perceptions of tobacco control stakeholders regarding SLT in Uganda. Qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with stakeholders who were purposively selected from ministries, semi-autonomous government agencies and Civil Society Organizations. Interviews explored knowledge, attitudes, perceptions of SLT appeal, and user demographics. Data were analysed using Nvivo V.12 software. Participants demonstrated a general lack of awareness of SLT product types and the extent of their use. They believed SLT use was increasing among females and minors and was as harmful to health and the economy as smoking. SLT products were thought to be cheaper than cigarettes and to appeal to minors. Discreet use was thought to help users overcome the cultural aversion towards tobacco use among women and youth in Uganda. There is an urgent need to strengthen the implementation of the SLT ban whilst also increasing efforts to reduce tobacco smoking.
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    ‘That is a Ministry of Health thing’: Article 5.3 implementation in Uganda and the challenge of whole-of-government accountability
    (BMJ Publishing Group Ltd, 2022-06) Male, Denis; Ralston, Rob; Nyamurungi, Kellen; Collin, Jeff
    While Uganda has made legislative progress towards implementing Article 5.3 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), ongoing challenges in minimising tobacco industry interference have not been adequately explored. This analysis focuses on understanding difficulties in managing industry engagement across government ministries and in developing effective whole-of-government accountability for tobacco control. Interviews with Uganda government officials within the health sector and beyond, including in Ministries of Trade, Agriculture and Revenue. The findings indicate substantial variations in awareness of Article 5.3, its norm and practices across government sectors. The data suggest ambiguity and uncertainty about accountability for Article 5.3 implementation, with policy makers in departments beyond health often uncertain about obligations under the FCTC. Second, we highlight how responsibility for Article 5.3 implementation and the obligations incurred are widely seen as restricted to the Ministry of Health. Third, competing mandates and perceived difficulties in reconciling health goals with economic growth are shown to impact on accountability for tobacco control. Yet, importantly, the data also demonstrate enthusiasm in some unexpected parts of government for actively engaging with Article 5.3 and for promoting greater intersectoral coordination. This paper demonstrates the intrinsic challenges of developing whole-of-government approaches, highlighting considerable uncertainty and ambiguity among decision makers in Uganda about tobacco control governance. The analysis points to the potential for Uganda's national coordinating mechanism to help reconcile competing expectations and demonstrate the importance of Article 5.3 beyond health actors.
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    Toxicological Risk Associated with Consumption of Rice Sold in Uganda
    (International Journal of Scientific Advances, 2021) Namubiru, Leatitiah; Male, Denis; Mukisa Muzira, Ivan; Byenkya Byaruhanga, Yusuf
    Previous studies have reported the presence of aflatoxins (AFB1, AFB2, AFG1 and AFG2), heavy metals (As, Cd and Pb) and organochlorine pesticide residues (OCPs) in rice sold in Uganda. However, the potential health effects associated with consumption of rice have not been evaluated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the health risk of consuming rice sold in Uganda. A total of 45 packed and 30 open traded rice samples were randomly collected from retail outlets in the main rice trading areas of Uganda. Rice was analysed for AFB1, AFB2, AFG1 and AFG2, As, Cd, Pb and OCPs using AOAC standard methods. Dietary exposure of the consumers to contaminants was assessed using the estimated daily intake (EDI). The Hazard index (HI) and the incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) were determined to define the non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risk from contaminants, respectively. The potency of liver cancer cases in Uganda was 1.02E-5 and 1.05E-5 adults/year/100,000, and 6.50E-4 and 6.72E-5 infants /year/100,000 for open traded and packed rice, respectively. The values obtained for the ILCR for Arsenic detected in rice were 1.14E-2 and 7.28E-2 for adults and infants, respectively. The ILCR of all detected OCPs in adults and infants were higher than 1.0E-4, in both open traded and packed rice. This study established a potential carcinogenic risk from consumption of rice sold in Uganda in both infants and adults at the current level of contamination and consumption rate. Establishment of a monitoring system along the entire rice value chain; enforced by a national regulatory body can provide timely feedback on the levels of contamination and the progress in reducing the contamination burden.