Abstract
IntroductionBotswana is one of the HIV/AIDS hardest hit countries in Sub-Saharan Africa with a prevalence of 17.6 percent while incidence is estimated to be 2.9 percent. The average risk of HIV transmission after a percutaneous exposure to HIV-infected blood has been estimated to be approximately 0.3% posing a threat to health care workers. This has resulted in HIV post exposure prophylaxis (PEP) being very important in the healthcare setting. The aim of this study was to assess knowledge, attitudes and practices of health care workers towards HIV PEP.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted at Princes Marina Hospital (PMH) in Gaborone from the 26th March-2nd April 2014. Inclusion criteria- registered medical doctors and nurses. Collected sample size was 199. Data was collected using self-administered questionnaires.ResultsThe majority of respondents 70.7% of the respondents had adequate knowledge about PEP, with 191(97.4%) of the study participants being aware of HIV PEP while 82.2% of the respondents had a positive attitude toward PEP. A significant number had been exposed 107(53.7%) to risky exposures. Of the exposed, 80(74.8%) took PEP, while 27(25.2%) did not take PEP. From the respondents that took PEP 21(26.6%) did not complete PEP, with 15(71.4%) quitting because of adverse side effects, 1(4.76%) assuming it was enough treatment and 1(4.76%) doubting drug efficacy.ConclusionThe participants were knowledgeable of the existence of HIV PEP and had a positive attitude toward the HIV PEP program. Although the participants were knowledgeable, they showed inadequate practices with regard to HIV PEP.
Highlights
Botswana is one of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/AIDS hardest hit countries in Sub-Saharan Africa with a prevalence of 17.6 percent while incidence is estimated to be 2.9 percent
In another study conducted on general practitioners in northern Sydney Australia, 68.5% were aware of the availability of HIV post exposure prophylaxis (PEP) for high risk occupational exposures [13], of which this study shows a higher awareness (97.4%)
The reason for this lower level of awareness could be because of the lower prevalence of HIV and other blood borne diseases like hepatitis B and C in Australia as compared to sub-Saharan setting, like Botswana and Ethiopia, requiring healthcare workers to be knowledgeable about HIV PEP because of the increased risk of exposure. 90/194(46.4%) of the respondents who responded to the question on when to start PEP for HIV correctly chose, “within an hour of exposure”
Summary
Botswana is one of the HIV/AIDS hardest hit countries in Sub-Saharan Africa with a prevalence of 17.6 percent while incidence is estimated to be 2.9 percent. The average risk of HIV transmission after a percutaneous exposure to HIV-infected blood has been estimated to be approximately 0.3% posing a threat to health care workers. Health care workers (HCWs) are persons working in health care setting and they are potentially exposed to infectious materials such as blood, tissue, specific body fluids, medical supplies, equipment or environmental surfaces contaminated with these substances [2] They are frequently exposed to occupational hazards through percutaneous injury such as needle stick or cut with sharps, contact with the mucus membrane of eyes or mouth of an infected person, contact with non-intact skin exposed with blood or other potentially infectious body fluid. Episode of HIV transmission after non-intact skin has been documented, the average risk for transmission by this route has not been precisely quantified but estimated to be less than the risk for mucous membrane exposures [1]
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