Socioeconomic determinants, risk perception, and food safety concerns of African Giant snail consumption in Yenagoa Metropolis, Nigeria.

BACKGROUND

Environmental contamination in the Niger Delta has generated concern about the safety of foods harvested from natural environments. Laboratory studies have shown that African giant snails can accumulate trace elements.

OBJECTIVE

To assess socioeconomic correlates of African giant snail consumption, awareness and food-safety perceptions, perceived public-health implications, and support for community and policy measures among adult respondents in Yenagoa Metropolis, Nigeria.

METHODS

A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted among 391 adults recruited through a multistage community- and venue-based procedure. A 40-item questionnaire comprised four ten-item domains: (1) socioeconomic factors related to snail consumption; (2) awareness, perceptions, and coping strategies concerning snail safety; (3) perceived public-health implications and vulnerability; and (4) community-based interventions and policy measures, each scored on a five-point response scale. Domain scores were analysed as mean composite scores. Descriptive statistics, Pearson chi-square tests, Bonferroni-adjusted item-level significance tests, Cramér's V, multiple linear regression with 95% confidence intervals, and a secondary repeated-measures general linear model with Bonferroni-adjusted pairwise comparisons were used.

RESULTS

Respondents were predominantly female (59.3%), students (53.2%), and highly educated (53.5% tertiary; 34.3% postgraduate. In the socioeconomic-item analyses, education was associated with several consumption-related items after Bonferroni correction, while income was not associated with the relevant item (χ 2 = 15.695, df = 16, raw p = 0.474, Bonferroni-adjusted p = 1.000). In occupation-based awareness analyses, associations that remained after correction included awareness of environmental pollution, checking snail sources, and trust in vendor hygiene. The regression models explained 14.0% of variance in the socioeconomic-consumption composite, 12.0% in awareness, 23.6% in perceived public-health implications, and 19.9% in policy support. Marital status (B = 0.258, 95% CI 0.121 to 0.396) and education (B = -0.272, 95% CI -0.368 to -0.176) were independently associated with the socioeconomic-consumption composite. The socioeconomic-consumption composite was associated with awareness (B = 0.370, 95% CI 0.250 to 0.489); both socioeconomic-consumption and awareness were associated with perceived public-health implications; and age, education, and perceived public-health implications were associated with policy support.

CONCLUSION

The findings indicate an awareness-practice gap and substantial public support for food-safety interventions. However, these findings reflect consumer perceptions and reported behaviours rather than measured trace-metal contamination or direct exposure among respondents.