ASSESSMENT OF PHYSICAL FACILITIES, OPERATIONS, MANAGEMENT AND HYGIENIC PRACTICES IN MAJOR ABATTOIRS OFEASTERN ETHIOPIA

Abstract

A descriptive cross-sectional questionnaire survey was carried out from November 2022 to February 2023 to assess the physical facilities, slaughter and sanitation operations and waste management practices in 11 abattoirs of Eastern Ethiopia. General information on the study 11 abattoirs was gathered using a questionnaire presented to managers of abattoirs or meat inspectors. In addition, a 5-point Likert scale question was used to assess the availability and quality of abattoir facilities, frequency of slaughter operations, sanitary practices and abattoir waste management. The Likert scale questionnaire was administered to a randomly selected 104 abattoir workers. The collected data was analyzed using frequencies, proportions (percentages) and mean ± standard deviation using SPSS version 20 statistical software. From the 11 surveyed abattoirs 72.7% were built in a land with an area of <1000 m2 and didn’t have sufficient land for expansion. All (100%) the studied abattoirs were registered by the regional authorities and approved to slaughter animals for human consumption. The slaughter hall in all abattoirs (100%) had a concrete floor, in 36.4% of the abattoirs had a slippery floor and in 27.3% of the abattoirs had flooring without proper gradient for drainage of waste water. Those abattoirs that had written and acceptable sanitation program were 81.8% and didn’t have electric supply were 18.2%. From the 104 interviewed abattoir workers 95.2% were males, 78.85% were >18–40 years old, nearly all had formal education and 97.12% had received training. Basic facilities such as lairage, isolation pen, emergency slaughter hall, head and feet sections, detained meat room, dispatch room, hide and skin store, administration office and office for meat inspectors were not available in 4 to 9 abattoirs. The mean quality score for basic facilities ranged from 2.0±0.1 (poor) to 4.4±0.1 (very good). All the study abattoirs didn’t have cold vans. There were no fence, tarry abattoir campus, industrial three phase electricity supply, stand-by generator, first aid room, and equipment storage and meat transport vehicles in 2 to 9 abattoirs. The mean quality score for ancillary facilities ranged from 1.5±0.5 (very poor) to 4.3±0.2 (very good). In 5 abattoirs, resting animals in a lairage was described not practiced. The overall mean score for the slaughter operation and practices ranged from 3.4±0.2 (satisfactory) to 4.8±0.1 (very good). Hand tools used for bleeding etc sanitized by immersing in water at 80 to 82oC for 2 minutes and final hot water rinse before reuse, cleaning of the slaughter house premises at the beginning, during and at the end of the day of operation, insect and rodent control and cloth changing rooms and toilets are kept clean at all times were not practiced in 5 to all abattoirs. The overall mean frequency score of sanitation practice ranged from 3.2±0.5 (satisfactory) to 4.6±0.1 (very good). The overall mean frequency score of waste management ranged from 3.2±0.5 (satisfactory) to 4.6±0.1 (very good). In conclusion, relocation of abattoirs from the densely populated area and riverine site, provision and improvement on basic infrastructures and auxiliary facilities, continuous monitoring of slaughter activities and training and provision of continuous public health education to abattoir workers is recommended.