Demographic characteristics and camel milk production and handling practices in Burao City, Somaliland: implications for food safety

Abstract

This study investigated the demographic characteristics and camel milk production and handling practices in Burao City, Somaliland, and their implications for food safety. A cross-sectional survey of 384 camel milk producers, including households and commercial farmers, was conducted using structured questionnaires and observational checklists. Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and logistic regression analysis were employed to examine the associations between various factors and adherence to hygienic milk-handling practices. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. The results revealed a predominantly male (67.71%), young (71.1% aged 26–41), and largely uneducated (62.76%) workforce. Critical issues identified included poor hygiene practices (only 13.02% consistently washing hands before milking), lack of udder cleaning (84.11% never cleaning udders), widespread use of plastic containers (96.48%), limited food safety knowledge (only 44.01% were aware of contamination risks), and inadequate cold chain management (24.22% storing milk at ambient temperature). Chi-square analysis revealed significant associations among education, transportation methods, storage practices, and hygiene compliance (p < 0.05). Logistic regression revealed that the following factors were significantly associated with poor hygiene practices: ambient-temperature storage (OR = 4.82, p = 0.002), traditional smoking preservation methods (OR = 7.82, p = 0.019), and insufficient storage facilities (OR = 0.25, p = 0.006). These findings highlight the urgent need for targeted, culturally sensitive interventions to improve hygiene, enhance food safety knowledge, and upgrade storage and transportation methods for camel milk production in Burao City, Somaliland.