Abstract

MARTINEZ JAIKEL, Tatiana  and  MORA RAMIREZ, Diana. Knowledge and opinions on chicken meat in two Costa Rican rural-urban communities. Rev. costarric. salud pública [online]. 2010, vol.19, n.1, pp.03-11. ISSN 1409-1429.

Objective: To determine knowledge and opinions regarding chicken meat in families and health personnel of two Costa Rican communities, an urban one and a rural one, during the period 2007-2008. Methodology: A qualitative-descriptive study was undertaken using the technique of focal groups as well as interviews to the families and health personnel of the communities of Alajuela and Piedades de Santa Ana. Results: Knowledge about chicken meat is limited to the content of protein and fat. In relation to opinions about the reasons for consumption, those mentioned had to do with the advantages that this food offers: namely, easy digestion, the economic aspect, the health factor and that chicken can be prepared in a multitude of ways. The main reasons for not eating chicken were related to the hormonal content as well as the risk of microbiological contamination. Conclusions: The limited knowledge of the population is related to scary information that the health personnel say they have and, therefore, the latter don’t transmit sufficient and pertinent recommendations. The reasons not to consume chicken meat are not determination in the decision to purchase, because the main criteria for selection are the freshness of the meat and its cost.

Keywords : health knowledge; attitudes; practice; public opinion; poultry; food.

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