Abstract:
In Malaysia, there are widely advertising of probiotics foods. However, no available
data on the public awareness and knowledge in respective study had been reported.
Moreover, digestive system disease, antibiotics-induced diarrhea and pathogenic
infections were found to be the problems faced among the public. This study had
been carried out in Johar Bahru, the heart city of Johar in southern Peninsular
Malaysia. The purpose of this study is to examine the awareness and knowledge
among Johoreans towards probiotics and its health beneficial consumption effects. A
cross-sectional survey was carried out between July until September 2011, involving a
total of 120 respondents with 50% of male and female respectively. It was found that
60% of the respondents were aware of probiotics and 67.5% consumed probiotics food
products. However, results revealed that 71.4% among the respective respondents
were having a low knowledge level on probiotics and thus more than two-third (69.2%)
would like to know more about probiotics. A low consumption frequency (34.3%) of
probiotics foods was reported among probiotics users.
