Standard Precautions                        Orient Journal of Medicine             Vol 33 [1-2] Jan-June, 2021
ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Knowledge andCompliance withStandard Precaution Among Healthcare Workers inA South-East Nigerian Tertiary Hospital  
Chinyere U ONUBOGU1
Ogochukwu C OFIAELI1
Adaora N ONYEYILI2
Iloduba N AGHANYA3
Nwanneka O UGWU1
Raymond C OKECHUKWU4
Emeka SEDOKWE1
Chibuzo UNDUKWU5
Obiageli F EMELUMADU6

1Department of Paediatrics
College of Health Sciences
Nnamdi Azikiwe University
Nnewi Campus, NIGERIA

2Department of Nursing Services
3Department of Medical Microbiology
Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching
HospitalNnewi, NIGERIA

4Department of Pharmacy
Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka
Anambra State,NIGERIA

5Department of Surgery
6Department of Community Medicine
College of Health Sciences
Nnamdi Azikiwe University
Nnewi CampusNIGERIA

Author for Correspondence
Dr Chinyere Ukamaka ONUBOGU
Department of Paediatrics
College of Health Sciences
Nnamdi Azikiwe University
Nnewi Campus, NIGERIA

Phone: +234 803 716 5759
Email: cu.onubogu@unizik.edu.ng

Received: July 7th, 2020
Accepted: August 10th, 2020

DISCLOSURE
Conflict of interest: nil
External financial support:nil
ABSTRACT

Background: Adherence to standard precautions (SP) is critical to reducing the burden of nosocomial infections.
Objective:We assessed the knowledge and practice of SP among healthcare workers (HCWs).
Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted among HCWs in Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH), Nnewi Anambra State, Nigeria using self-administered questionnaire and key informant interview.
Results: Mean age and employment duration of subjects were 33.4±11.9 and 6.0 ± 6.7 years, respectively. Majority of the 341 HCWs had heard about SP (82.1%) and agreed that it should be applied to all patient care (78.0%). Only 45.7% of them correctly cited =2 components of SP. Two-third of participants reported that SP was poorly practiced in their unit mainly due to inadequate supply of materials (63.1%), inadequate staff training/retraining (62.2%), inadequate support by management (51.4%) andunavailablestandard operating procedures (SOPs) on SP (37.8%). Compliance with SP and specifically,personal protective equipment (PPE) use were 65.1% and 76.2%, respectively. Profession (p=0.023), awareness about SP (p<0.001), SOP display in prominent places (p<0.001) and regular supply of running water (p<0.001) were significantly associated with SP compliance.
Key informant interview revealed lack of written SP policies or its communication to HCWs, lack of training/retraining of HCWs and lack of materials required for SPpractice.
Conclusion:Knowledge of basic concept and practice of SP was not satisfactory among HCWs. Major barriers to SP were lack of materials, training and active support by hospital management. Awareness, SOP display in prominent places and regular supply of running water positively influenced SP compliance.
Having written policies and communicating such to all HCWs, consistent supply of necessary materials, intensified training, and regular supervision are recommended

Keywords: Universal precautions, Nosocomial infections, Tertiaryhospitals, Health Personnel, Nigeria