Food Safety Practices and Associated Factors Among Street Food Vendors in Urban Areas of Eastern Zone of Sidama Region, Ethiopia: A Community Based Cross Sectional Study.

INTRODUCTION: Food safety research in Ethiopia has largely focused on major cities, leaving zonal and district urban areas underexplored. This evidence gap limits the development of context-specific interventions to reduce foodborne disease risks. This study assessed food safety practices and associated factors among street food vendors in urban areas of the Eastern Zone of the Sidama Region, Ethiopia. METHODS: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from 25 January to 20 February 2025 among 546 street food vendors selected using multistage sampling. Data were collected using a pretested, structured interviewer-administered questionnaire through the Kobo Toolbox system. Multivariable logistic regression identified factors associated with food safety practices. Statistical significance was declared at p < 0.05, and adjusted odds ratios (AORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were reported. RESULTS: Overall, 52.2% (95% CI: 47.9%-56.4%) of street food vendors demonstrated good food safety practices. Good food safety practices were significantly associated with being female (AOR = 2.02, 95% CI: 1.35-3.01), earning a monthly income of ≥5,000 Ethiopian Birr (AOR = 2.86, 95% CI: 1.93-4.26), having ≥5 years of work experience (AOR = 2.18, 95% CI: 1.47-3.24), receiving food safety training (AOR = 2.91, 95% CI: 1.92-4.39), being licensed (AOR = 1.62, 95% CI: 1.09-2.40), and possessing good food safety knowledge (AOR = 2.13, 95% CI: 1.42-3.18). CONCLUSION: Slightly more than half of the vendors demonstrated good food safety practices. Expanding food safety training, strengthening health education, and enforcing licensing requirements are recommended to improve food safety practices among street food vendors.