KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND INFECTION CONTROL PRACTICES AMONG HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS IN SELECTED PRIMARY HEALTHCARE CENTRES IN URBAN AREAS OF LAGOS STATE.

Abstract

Background: Infection is a serious issue encountered in healthcare delivery services worldwide. Healthcare workers are exposed to the risk of occupational infection following accidental exposure to blood or body fluids. Studies have shown disparity in knowledge of infection transmission and control, its interpretation and application among healthcare workers at the primary healthcare level in particular. This study determined the knowledge, attitude and practice of infection control among healthcare workers in primary healthcare (PHCs) centers in Surulere LGA.

Methods: A cross-sectional study carried out among PHCs in Surulere LGA using a simple random sampling technique. The PHCs are composed of doctors, pharmacy technicians, nurses, community health officers, community extension workers, junior community health extension workers and laboratory technologists. The questionnaires consisting of participants demography, working experience, professions, presence of infection control committee, exposure to training on infection control, knowledge and practice of infection control, were analyzed. Data entry and analysis was done using Epi info software version 7.2.3.1

Results: Most of the respondents (77.3%) were females and female to male ratio was 3:1. Close to half of the respondents (43.6%) have less than 5 years of working experience. Among the professions, the nurses constituted a predominant proportion (27.3%) while among all the professions combined, 97.3% of them had good knowledge of infection control. All the respondents had above average positive attitude towards infection control. Atotal of 86.4% of the respondents had good infection control practice Ahigh proportion of the respondents (75.5%) have training on infection control while 95.5% of the respondents are aware about infection control guidelines. There was a significant association between knowledge and practice of infection control (p<0.001). There was a statistically significant association between age, years of work experience, occupation and overall knowledge. There was a statistically significant association between the level of education, occupation and overall practice of infection control.

Conclusion: Majority of the respondents had good knowledge of infection control and positive attitude. Adequate provision of appropriate safety kits and their timely replacement should be made.
It was recommended Health workers should regularly update their knowledge and practice regarding infection prevention activities during continuous professional development, to be coupled with adequate provision and timely replacement of appropriate safety kits when worn-out to all cadres of staff based on their job schedule.