Public awareness and knowledge towards consumption of probiotics and its health effects : study in Johor Bahru

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.