THE CONSUMPTION AWARENESS AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO SOME ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL FACTORS FOR THE RURAL POPULATION IN WASIT PROVINCE

Abstract

Increase the level of awareness of local consumers is necessary with international standards of food quality and safety and methods of preserving and packaging products, which in turn affects consumer behavior. This was reflected in defining some important criteria on which the consumer is based, so the need to enhance the consumer's ability to distinguish between the different types and items offered in the market arose. The main objective of the research is to identify consumer awareness and its relationship to some economic and social factors for the rural population in Wasit province in Iraq. The research included all rural residents in a random sample of (204) respondents from rural communities (10%) randomly surveyed. The study concluded that about 37% of the respondents with limited income viewed the date of production and expiry of the food products, and about 66% of them had fallen into buying spoiled or adulterated goods, and thus about 17% turned away. To buying imported goods, about 41% of the respondents distinguish goods of good quality. It is clear that with an increase in the total monthly income of the respondents, their consumer awareness increases when they purchase food products. The significance of the test was shown statistically between the educational status of the respondents and the variables expressing consumer awareness. The statistical significance of the test was also shown between the number of sources of information of the respondents and the variables expressing their consumer awareness. The results also showed the need for the government to work on implementing all or some of the roles of protecting consumers from falling into the consumption of spoiled or adulterated goods that negatively affect their security and health, especially the roles related to the control of local markets.