Infection Control Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices among Healthcare Workers at Mulago Hospital, Kampala, Uganda

2012 ◽  
Vol 33 (9) ◽  
pp. 917-923 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ajay K. Sethi ◽  
Charles W. Acher ◽  
Bruce Kirenga ◽  
Scott Mead ◽  
Curtis J. Donskey ◽  
...  

Objective.Effective implementation of infection control programs and adherence to standard precautions are challenging in resource-limited settings. The objective of this study was to describe infection control knowledge, attitudes, and practices among healthcare workers (HCWs) in Uganda.Design.We conducted a survey of hospital employees who had direct contact with patients or their immediate environment. We also performed an environmental assessment of resource availability and utilization within hospital wards.Setting.Surgical, medicine, and obstetrics wards at a national referral hospital in Kampala, Uganda.Participants.One hundred eighty-three randomly selected HCWs.Results.Almost all HCWs knew to wash their hands, although nursing and support staff were less likely to perceive that HCWs' hands can be a vector of disease transmission. Hand washing was valued more as a means of self-protection than as a means to prevent patient-to-patient transmission, consistent with the prevailing belief that infection control was important for occupational safety. Sinks were not readily accessible, and soap at sinks was uncommon throughout the medicine and obstetrics wards but more commonly available in the surgery wards. Alcohol gel was rarely available.Conclusions.Changing infection control practices in developing countries will require a multifaceted approach that addresses resource availability, occupational safety, and local understanding and attitudes about infection control.

Biomédica ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 40 (Supl. 2) ◽  
pp. 159-165
Author(s):  
Jorge Alberto Cortés ◽  
Pilar Espitia ◽  
Yuliet Liliana Rosero-Lasso

Introduction: Healthcare personnel plays an important role in the prevention of acute respiratory infections in hospital settings.Objective: Our aim was to establish the level of knowledge about respiratory virus infections and the attitudes and practices among healthcare workers, leaders of infection control committees in hospitals of Bogotá, Colombia.Materials and methods: We used a self-administered questionnaire of 28 items during the monthly meeting sponsored by the local health authority. “Yes or no” and “true or false” questions were applied to measure knowledge. Attitudes and practices were measured with a Likert-type scale according to the agreement degree.Results: We surveyed 70 healthcare workers. Respondents demonstrated a good level of knowledge as 80% of them answered correctly more than five questions. A total of 54.4% showed a low degree of agreement when asked if their institutions have the policy to stay home when they are sick with respiratory symptoms and 67.1% never or rarely remain at home under such conditions.Conclusion: Healthcare worker leaders of infection control committees in Bogotá’s ospitals have adequate knowledge about the prevention of seasonal respiratory viruses. There is a need for implementing urgent sick leave policies as a measure to prevent the spread of potential coronavirus infections in hospitals.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
najod Alshathri

Abstract Background: Infections acquired in healthcare facilities have become an increasingly challenging issue worldwide. The prevention of infectious diseases is a critical issue since healthcare workers develop acquired infections while providing services to patients. However, infection prevention and control are challenging, especially in healthcare facilities. Thus, this study aimed to determine the level of knowledge, attitudes, and practices among healthcare workers in King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital (KKESH). Methodology: A cross-sectional survey was conducted at KKESH, total of 285 healthcare workers, including physicians, nurses, optometrists, radiographers, and ophthalmic assistants were investigated. A close-ended, self-administered questionnaire was used to assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices toward infection control prevention measures. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 20. Chi-squared was computed to identify associations between factors within the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of infection prevention.Results: The study showed that 81% of respondents had good knowledge, 82% had a positive attitude, and only 59% had safe infection prevention practices. Doctors were more knowledgeable than other staff, and nurses showed a high level of positive attitude and safe practices. There was a statistically significant correlation between age, occupation, education, and years of experience with infection prevention practices among healthcare providers (P<0.05). The availability of infection prevention guidelines was associated with excellent knowledge, a positive attitude, and safe practices.Conclusion: The findings of this study revealed that most healthcare workers had adequate knowledge and displayed a positive attitude, but practices toward infection control were not sufficient. Therefore, regular training, that contain educational programs, should be supported to maintain the highest level of practice.


Author(s):  
Christina El-saaidi ◽  
Omid Dadras ◽  
Patou Masika Musumari ◽  
Masako Ono-Kihara ◽  
Masahiro Kihara

In developing countries such as Egypt, the risk of blood-borne diseases such as human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B virus, and hepatitis C virus is high for healthcare workers. To evaluate infection control knowledge, attitudes and practices, as well as the associated risk of percutaneous infection among dental students, a cross-sectional study was conducted in four Egyptian public dental schools in 2016. A total of 1776 students received an anonymous questionnaire on infection control knowledge, attitudes, and practices and the occurrence of needle and sharps injuries; 1,067 (60.1%) completed the questionnaire. Third- (pre-clinical), fourth- (junior-clinical), and fifth-year (senior-clinical) students comprised 44.2%, 15.6%, and 40.2%, respectively. Although the majority of the students reported good attitudes and practices for infection control, knowledge scores were generally low. Female students scored higher on self-protection and sterilization practices than did male students, and the fourth-year students showed significantly higher scores for infection control practice than did the fifth-year students. In multivariate analysis, higher scores for all infection control practices were associated with higher scores for attitudes towards infection control and fewer (1–3) needle injury experiences. Although an alarming proportion had experienced needle or sharps injuries during clinical training, around 30% of the students had not received a complete hepatitis B vaccination. Future infection control education should introduce refresher training before graduation that focuses on injury prevention and post-exposure protocols. Additionally, introducing safer products and clinical procedures is highly recommended to minimize the risk of injuries during clinical practice for dental students in Egypt.


2011 ◽  
Vol 47 (2) ◽  
pp. 144-152 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yolanda Miroballi ◽  
Elizabeth Garber ◽  
Haomiao Jia ◽  
Juyan Julia Zhou ◽  
Luis Alba ◽  
...  

2013 ◽  
Vol 34 (12) ◽  
pp. 1289-1296 ◽  
Author(s):  
Admasu Tenna ◽  
Edward A. Stenehjem ◽  
Lindsay Margoles ◽  
Ermias Kacha ◽  
Henry M. Blumberg ◽  
...  

Objective.To better understand hospital infection control practices in Ethiopia.Design.A cross-sectional evaluation of healthcare worker (HCW) knowledge, attitudes, and practices about hand hygiene and tuberculosis (TB) infection control measures.Methods.An anonymous 76-item questionnaire was administered to HCWs at 2 university hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Knowledge items were scored as correct/incorrect. Attitude and practice items were assessed using a Likert scale.Results.In total, 261 surveys were completed by physicians (51%) and nurses (49%). Fifty-one percent of respondents were male; mean age was 30 years. While hand hygiene knowledge was fair, self-reported practice was suboptimal. Physicians reported performing hand hygiene 7% and 48% before and after patient contact, respectively. Barriers for performing hand hygiene included lack of hand hygiene agents (77%), sinks (30%), and proper training (50%) as well as irritation and dryness (67%) caused by hand sanitizer made in accordance with the World Health Organization formulation. TB infection control knowledge was excellent (more than 90% correct). Most HCWs felt that they were at high risk for occupational acquisition of TB (71%) and that proper TB infection control can prevent nosocomial transmission (92%). Only 12% of HCWs regularly wore a mask when caring for TB patients. Only 8% of HCWs reported that masks were regularly available, and 76% cited a lack of infrastructure to isolate suspected/known TB patients.Conclusions.Training HCWs about the importance and proper practice of hand hygiene along with improving hand sanitizer options may improve patient safety. Additionally, enhanced infrastructure is needed to improve TB infection control practices and allay HCW concerns about acquiring TB in the hospital.


BJS Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eddy Lincango-Naranjo ◽  
Paola Solis-Pazmino ◽  
Eddy Lincango-Naranjo

Abstract Introduction As new coronavirus has spread globally, economic instability in healthcare systems has been significant. This reality is especially accentuated in Ecuador where, the shortage of healthcare workers combined with cultural and macroeconomic factors have led it to face the most aggressive outbreak in Latin America. In this context, the participation of medical students on the front line is indispensable. Appropriate training on COVID-19 is an urgent need that universities and health systems must guarantee. We aimed to describe the knowledge, attitudes and practices in Ecuadorian final year medical students in order to identify the knowledge gaps, perceptions and behavior patterns which could guide the desig3n of better medical education curricula regarding COVID-19. Methods This descriptive 33-item online survey conducted between April 6 to April 20 sent by email and by Facebook and WhatsApp. Results 309 students responded to the survey. 88% scored high (≥ 70% correct) for knowledge of the disease. The majority of students were pessimistic about possible government actions, which is reflected in the negative attitude towards the control of COVID19 in Ecuador and volunteering during the outbreak (77%, and 58% of the students, respectively). Moreover, 91% of students said they did not have adequate protective equipment or training in their health facilities. Conclusions Ecuador has a capable upcoming workforce that could benefit from an opportunity to strengthen, improve and advance their training in preparation for COVID-19. Creating a national curriculum may be one of the most effective ways for all students to be trained, while simultaneously focusing on the students’ most pressing concerns.


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 29
Author(s):  
Samir Shah ◽  
Ali Elgalib ◽  
Adil Al-Wahaibi ◽  
Maha Al-Fori ◽  
Prasanna Raju ◽  
...  

Objectives: Stigma and discrimination undermine the quality of life of people with HIV and their access to health services. This study aimed to assess HIV-related knowledge, attitudes and practices among healthcare workers (HCWs) in Oman. Methods: This cross-sectional study took place between July and November 2016. A questionnaire was distributed to 1,400 government HCWs to determine HIV-related knowledge, attitudes and practices. Results: A total of 1,281 HCWs participated (response rate = 92%). Routine tasks, such as dressing wounds, drawing blood and touching clothes, were a cause of concern for 24–52% of HCWs. Only 69% correctly answered questions regarding the transmission of HIV via eating/drinking and mosquito bites. Compared to other HCWs, doctors had significantly higher knowledge (mean = 0.46, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.19 to 0.73; P <0.001), attitude (mean = 0.77, 95% CI: 0.31 to 1.24; P = 0.001) and practice (mean = 2.07, 95% CI: 1.59 to 2.55; P <0.001) scores. Expatriates also scored significantly higher in knowledge (mean = 1.08, 95% CI: 0.93 to 1.23; P <0.001), attitude (mean = 1.23, 95% CI: 0.98 to 1.48; P <0.001) and practice (mean = 1.08, 95% CI: 0.82 to 1.34; P <0.001) compared to Omani nationals. Finally, those with >15 years’ work experience scored significantly higher on knowledge (mean = −0.60, 95% CI: −1.12 to −0.08; P = 0.025) and attitude (mean = −0.99, 95% CI: −1.87 to −0.10; P = 0.029) compared to those with less experience. Conclusion: The high rate of HIV-related stigma among HCWs in Oman should be rectified in order to achieve the 90-90-90 target set by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS.Keywords: HIV; Social Stigma; Social Discrimination; Knowledge; Attitude; Professional Practice; Healthcare Providers; Oman.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amina M. Al Marzouqi ◽  
Michael E. Otim ◽  
Heba H. Hijazi ◽  
Leena S. Kehail ◽  
Ramsha A. Kamal

Abstract Objectives: The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) outbreak is a global health pandemic that continues to have an impact on many aspects of everyday life. This study investigates the Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) related to COVID-19 among healthcare workers in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Methods: This study uses a cross-sectional study design. The original data were collected using an online questionnaire distributed via a Google Forms link. Participants were healthcare workers currently working in the UAE healthcare facilities and recruited using snowball sampling. The questionnaire collected information on demographic variables and COVID-19-related knowledge, attitudes, and practice.Results: In total, the sample of 107 healthcare workers completed the survey. About 92% of the participants worked in public institutions, 87% were from Dubai, and 673% were female. The majority were aged 31–40 years (34.6%), and 43% were radiographers. 66.4% held bachelor’s degrees and Indian nationalities were (28%) and the Philippinos were (28%). Most (90.7%) participants knew the absence of fever did not mean that the virus could not transmit from an infected person, and 84.1% agreed that wearing general medical masks prevented one from contracting COVID-19. However, only 36.4% strongly believed that wearing a well-fitting face mask was effective. In addition, only 15.9% reported confidently managing patients with symptoms of COVID-19, and 54.2% reported that they were afraid of contracting the virus from patients. Almost half of the participants avoided patients who had symptoms of COVID-19. Conclusion: Overall, healthcare workers’ COVID-19-related knowledge, attitudes, and practices for healthcare workers in UAE healthcare facilities was very high. However, we found gaps in awareness regarding the spread of the pandemic. Our study recommends that providing healthcare workers with education programs and counseling services would help increase their confidence in treating patients with COVID-19.


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