Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Standard Precautions among Health Care Workers in Some Selected Clinics in Esan Central Local Government Area, Edo State
OMI-UJUANBI, Gloria Omolegho (Ph.D) and EHIGBOR Beatrice Omozele (Ph.D)
1Institute of Education, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State, Nigeria.
2Faculty of Education, Dept. of Guidance and Counselling, Ambrose Alli university Ekpoma, Edo state, Nigeria.
ABSTRACT
Standard precautions constitute the primary strategy for nosocomial infection control in the hospital. This study determined the knowledge, attitude and practice of standard precautions among health workers in some selected clinics in Esan Central Local Government Area, Edo State. Descriptive survey research design was used for the study. Forthy three (43) male and female health workers, were recruited using census method. The instrument used for data collection was self-structured questionnaire. Data was analyzed using simple percentage. The result showed that majority (82 percent) of the respondents had knowledge of standard precaution, (76 percent) of them observe standard precaution and all 43(100 percent) of the respondents do apply standard precaution to all individuals and patients regardless of their presumed health status. The result shows that the attitude of the health workers towards standard precaution, the study showed that (74 percent) of the respondents have positive attitude towards standard precaution. Based on study on the practice of standard precautions by health workers, it showed that (100 percent) of the respondents practice standard precautions and all of them affirmed that practice standard precautions improve their work. This study shows that majority of the respondents are familiar with standard precaution in the study area. The study showed that there was high rate of compliance by the health workers in health care centres in Esan Central Local Government Area. Based on the knowledge of health workers towards the utilization of standard precautions, all the respondents (82 percent) attest to fact that they have heard of the word standard precaution and they practice standard precaution. The practice of standard precaution among health workers should continue to be encouraged. Therefore, is recommended that a comprehensive infection prevention and control (IPAC) program should be developed at all levels of healthcare in Nigeria, namely federal, state, local government and health facility levels. Such program, among other things, should include basic measures of infection prevention and control.
Keywords: Knowledge, Attitude, Practice Standard Precaution, Health Workers