Assessment of awareness of mycotoxins infections in stored maize (Zea mays L.) and groundnut (arachis hypogea l.) in Kilosa district, Tanzania

Abstract

Background: Surveys were conducted to determine awareness of mould infection in maize and groundnut in Kilosa District, Eastern Central Tanzania, between August and October 2010. Four villages of Msingisi, Rudewa-Batini, Mamoyo and Mkalama were surveyed. We sampled maize from each household for mycotoxins contamination after nine months of storage. A questionnaire was administered to heads of 72 selected households in the study area. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to check factor dimensionality. The differences in mean total score of knowledge and awareness between the demographic and socio-economic factors were determined by t-test. Measurements of association were carried by Chi-square test (χ2), while ordinal logistic regression analysis was used to examine the correlations between social variables and awareness of mould infection. Results: We found high levels of fumonisins in maize that ranged from 70.46 to 213.15. Aflatoxin levels in groundnuts ranged from 72.97 to 195.17. Result showed that 97 % of respondents were not aware of mould infection in stored maize and groundnuts. The mean score of mould infections awareness of females (1.7273 ± 0. 45055) was significantly higher than that of males (1.5714 ± 13.7). Awareness of mould infection was high among educated (mean score 1.9231.3 ± 0.31470) than the less educated people (mean score 1.8913 ± 0.27175). Results revealed significant association between awareness of mould infection with age (p = 0.006), education (p = 0.039), marital status (p = 0.012), gender (0.037) and income (p = 0.044). Conclusion: Campaigns are needed to improve awareness of mould infection in Kilosa District, Tanzania.