Hygiene Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) of Retailers and their Association to E. coli Contamination in Pork Sold in La Trinidad, Benguet

A cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate the correlation between the meat hygiene knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of pork retailers and the Escherichia coli (E. coli) load of pork sold in La Trinidad, Benguet. A total of 72 pooled pork samples (60 grams per sample) were collected from all 72 registered meat stalls in the La Trinidad Public Market and the satellite markets across the municipality’s 16 barangays. These samples were analyzed for E. coli presence and load, while face-to-face interviews using a KAP questionnaire assessed the pork vendors' knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding meat hygiene. The results revealed a significant negative correlation (r = -0.73, p<0.01) between the vendors' KAP scores and the E. coli load in pork, indicating that barangays with higher KAP levels had lower levels of E. coli load. Further, 99% (71/72) of the pork samples tested positive for E. coli, with all samples exceeding the allowable limit (<10 cfu/g).The meat vendors demonstrated knowledge at 75.50%, attitude at 85.76%, and practice at 81.67%, resulting in an overall KAP score of 80.83%, classified as good. These findings suggest that while vendors demonstrate sufficient knowledge and satisfactory attitudes and practices concerning meat hygiene, significant gaps remain, as evidenced by the high levels of E. coli contamination and load. This study highlights the urgent need for targeted interventions to address these gaps, ensuring improved meat hygiene practices and reduced microbial contamination and load in pork sold in La Trinidad.