Abstract
Background: Street food vendors (SFVs) are prevalent entrepreneurs in busy locations worldwide. However, street-vended meals might potentially cause foodborne illnesses if there is a lack of environmental sanitation and hygienic measures during their handling.
Objective: To explore and synthesise the existing evidence regarding factors influencing environmental sanitation and hygienic practices in street food markets.
Method: A scoping review was performed using the Arksey and O'Malley approach. A systematic search was conducted in four databases, namely Scopus, Science Direct, Web of Science, and Sabinet African Journals databases and 570 articles were retrieved. After removing three duplicated articles, two independent reviewers screened 567 articles using the Rayyan software tool. A total of 16 articles were included in the final sample, and data were extracted using a pre-existing table.
Data analysis: The synthesis matrix was used to compile findings that addressed review questions from each source and their existing interconnections. Furthermore, the data were analysed using Taguette software and guided by Braun and Clarke’s six steps of data analysis.
Results: The evidence revealed factors influencing environmental sanitation and hygiene practices in street food markets (SFMs). These included socioeconomic and demographics, environmental and infrastructural influences, personal and behavioural influences on hygiene practices, food handling and safety practices, and regulatory compliance and oversight.
Conclusion: The factors identified influenced environmental sanitation and hygiene practices in SFMs. These influences highlight the need for targeted interventions to enhance hygiene standards, mitigate contamination risks, and promote safer food handling procedures.