Analytical Study on the Effect of Consuming Awareness on Consumer Protection

(Abdul Aziz bin Mohammed Shuaibi and Jalal navigator)

---

Abstract

The type of consuming awareness of consumers units (families) is related to cultural, sociological, and economical factors. Thus, it is expected to find differences in consuming awareness due to the differences of economical, sociological and environmental differences of individuals. There is no doubt that the study of such characteristics and their relationship with consuming awareness is vital since it could provide assistance in planning and guiding the protection and assisting policies for consumers and define the groups that need most assistance. This study is a step in such direction as is it is considered the first in the location. It also direct the attention for more research on the subjects of awareness, consumer guidance and protection using scientific methods to provide information for policy planning. This work aims to study and analyze the effects of consuming awareness of food consumers in Al-Ahsa governorate. This was achieved by studying the relationships of consuming awareness with some social and economic variables for Al-Ahsa consumers. The significance of such relationship was also tested. In addition, determination of the level of consumers awareness regarding the importance of consumer protection and guidance. Finally, the identification of the main factors that can be developed in order to improve consuming awareness and policy making in such regards. The study depended on primary field data that was collected by personal interviews of a random sample of consumers (families) in Al-Ahsa governorate using a questionnaire prepared for that purpose. Descriptive statistics was used to analyze the sample and its social and economic characteristics. In addition, the questionnaire was use to characterize the main factors affecting consuming awareness. Chi test was used to test the significance of all relationships. The results indicated that the educational level of the family head and the level of income had clear positive effect on the level of consuming awareness. This, in turn, plays a major role in protecting the consumer from buying rotten or unhealthy food and protect them from disease risk. The work also indicated that consumer protection is a joint responsibility of the consumer himself and the government. A consumer must be aware of his responsibility towards his self-protection with a special attention to the speedy development of food industries. On the other hand, the government should share by developing laws that ensures consumer protection and eliminate traders false actions. The government can also use its media and cultural tools to reach all sectors of the society to provide such protection. The results also suggests that the consumer protection policies must be directed to develop and inform the consumers with emphasis on the sectors that are less educated and to low income consumers especially those reside in less developed areas. The results also indicated that there is a wide gap between the current laws and their application in terms of specific quality and consumer protection. Many laws need activation while other additional laws are needed. The main recommendations of this work can be summarized as follows: 1- Concentrating on protection and guidance of low educational level sector of consumers as they do not appreciate the importance of variables such as expiration date of products, chemical preservatives added to foods, and other factors affecting consuming awareness. Low income sector should also be included in this activity. 2- Increasing awareness and guidance of consumers of the importance of food preservatives and coloring agents. The results indicated that the majority of families do not know its importance or how danger it is on health. Such awareness can lead to economic saving by maintain better health status for the community. 3- The work recommends the reexamination of the current laws. Current laws are not enough to secure consumer protection because it is not properly applied. New laws that cover the fast development of food manufacturing and importation are needed.
PDF

References