KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE OF STANDARD PRECAUTIONS AMONG SELECTED HEALTH CARE WORKERS IN UNIVERSITY OF PORT HARCOURT TEACHING HOSPITAL, RIVERS STATE, NIGERIA.

¹Mbenyi, Oluchi Edith, ²E. A. Nwoke and ³C.O.A. Amadi.

^{1, 2&3}Department of Public Health

Federal University of Technology, Owerri,

Imo State, Nigeria.

ABSTRACT

Background: This research study centered towards determining the knowledge, attitude and practice of standard precautions among selected health care workers in the University Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The specific objectives are; to assess the level of knowledge of standard precaution among health care workers, ascertain the attitude of health care workers in University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Rivers State towards standard precautions and to determine the level of practice of standard precaution. Related literature was reviewed.

Methods: Descriptive survey design was employed in this study. Out of the 400 selected health workers, Taro Yamane sample size determination was used to sample 200.  A well-structured questionnaire was used to extract information from the respondents. Descriptive statistics such as mean, and frequency distribution and percentages were used to analyze all the objectives. Chi-Square was used to analyze the hypotheses posed to the study.

Results: The result revealed that there were more females (67.5%) who participated in the studies than the male counterparts (32.5%). Majority (42.0%) of the respondents were still within their mid age of 30 – 39 years, followed by 26% who were within the age range of 40 – 49 years of age. Furthermore, the study showed that all participants (100%) had at one time or the other had previous knowledge of standard precaution as a concept in the health care system. However, their sources of information varied from formal training (65%), colleague/friend (26%), media (5.5) and other means (3.5%). Also, the respondents opined that every employer in the health care system should as a matter of utmost importance make provision for training on standard precautions. They believed that standard precaution is helpful in the protection against health hazards in workplace ( = 3.40). Some (50%) thought that recap of needle after use is a safe way to prevent needle injury and transmission of diseases.  Safety measures agreed by the respondents 98% include disposal of needle and syringe immediately after use. Methods of needle disposal in UPTH include the use of waste bin (50.5%) and enclose and burn (60%). The calculated value (76.23) and table value (9.48) which mean that we do have sufficient evidence to reject the null hypothesis which states that there is no significant impact of knowledge of standard precaution on practice.

Conclusion: The study showed that all participants (100%) had at one time or the other had previous knowledge of standard precaution as a concept in the health care system. This study revealed that the health care workers in UPTH has positive attitude towards standard precaution. In order to promote good standard precaution and mitigate the risk of hospital acquired infections, it is necessary for health authorities in Nigeria to institute policies that make it compulsory to establish IPAC (infection control and prevention) committees in all hospitals.

Keywords: Health Care system, Health hazards, Standard Precaution, Rivers State, University Teaching Hospital.