Characteristics of the Street Food Sector in N'Djamena, Chad

Preparation and sale of street food is a sociocultural fact in Chad. Since one decade, this activity has a remarkable growth due to galloping urbanization of our cities and especially to N'Djamena city, capital of Chad. Howev er, the organization of this activity causes great hygienic risks for these foods thus impeding their great nutritional and socioeconomic importance. The objective of this study is to examine the socio - demographic, economic and organizational characteristi cs of street food sector. From December 2013 to April 2014, 809 sellers and 455 consumers were surveyed by the quantitative technique in the public squares of N'Djamena. Our study found that 65.51% of producers are between the age of 21 and 40 years, and w omen represent 63 .04% of producers. The 65.39% of producers are married and 99.01% of producers work in the informal sector. Our study found also that 57.11% of sellers devote their profits to the maintenance of their families. By sex, overall proportions of males producers and consumers were 36.96% and 85.50%, respectively, overall proportions of females producers and consumers were 63.04% and 14.50% respectively for women (Significant difference, p = 0.001). The formalization of this activity is more than necessary to limit the health risks for consumers and strengthen the economic base of the sellers. It is obvious that formalization of this activity give s socioeconomic importance to street food sector.