Medicina Comunitária e Educação em Saúde

Abstrato

Knowledge, Attitude and Practice towards Infection Control Measures among Mizan-Aman General Hospital Workers, South West Ethiopia

Yakob E, Lamaro T, Henok A

Background: Compliance on the part of healthcare workers with standard precautions has been recognized as being an efficient means to prevent and control healthcare-associated infections. Such measures not only protect the patient, but also the HCWs and environment.

Objective: To assess knowledge, attitude and practice towards infection control measures among Mizan-Aman general hospital.

Methods: The study was conducted at Mizan-Aman General Hospital, Southwest Ethiopia. Cross-sectional study design was employed. All HCWs (135) were included in the study. Self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. Data was entered in to Epidata 3.1 and transported to SPSS version 17 for analysis.

Results: Out of 135 respondents, 57(42.2%) of HCWs think that they apply standard precaution always. About two-third (65.6%) of them had ever participated in training program. All of the respondents know that dirty needle and sharp materials could transmit disease causing agents. More than three fourth (76.3%) of health care workers think that they were at risk of acquiring HIV in their work place. Among HCWs 59(43.7%) of them disposed sharp materials in open pails, 91(67.4%) in sharp and liquid proof container without removing syringe. Ninety five (70.4%) HCWs know that gloves and gowns were required for any contact with patients. Among respondent 63(46.8%) of HCWs practice standard blood and body fluid precautions always. One hundred three (76.5%) of HCWs wear gloves last time while they took blood sample. Ninety two (68.7%) of HCWs wash their hands before examining the patients and 84(62.5%) of HCWs recap needle immediately after using them.

Conclusion: Majority of health care workers’ knowledge, attitude and practice toward standard precaution were not sufficient, favorable and safe enough to the expected standard. Strengthening and integrating universal precaution with routine services through provision of training and introducing health care workers infection prevention standard of practice, protocol, rules, and regulation are recommended.