INFECTION CONTROL: STANDARD PRECAUTION MEASURES KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE OF MEDICAL DOCTORS AND NURSES IN SUDAN

Abstract

Background and objectives: The emergence of life-threatening infections has highlighted the need for effective infection control programs in all health care settings. These programs are used to support hospitals in reducing the risk of healthcare-associated infection or nosocomial infection, and this study describes the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of standard infection control precautions among Health Care Workers in 3 teaching hospitals in Sudan. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between March and August 2018 among healthcare workers in 3 teaching hospitals: Omdurman Teaching Hospital, Khartoum Bahri Teaching Hospital and Khartoum Teaching Hospital in Sudan. Data for 254 nurses and 283 working physicians were collected via a self-structured questionnaire to assess the KAP core components of standard precautions. The percentage of professional knowledge and practice scores was calculated and occupational differences in the average professional knowledge and practice scores were ascertained. Result: A total of 429 out of 537 participating healthcare workers completed the questionnaire with a response rate of (79.9%), of whom (52.9%) were physicians and (47.1%) were nurses. (39.6%) of doctors and (53.5%) of nurses have a good level of knowledge, about (96%) of doctors and (97%) of nurses wash their hands after handling any bodily fluids, and this indicates that nearly And the doctors have a similar level of practice as well as a positive attitude. (91.1%) of doctors and (85.6%) of nurses think that they can be the source of transmission. Conclusion: Based on the findings of our study, the majority of nurses had good knowledge compared to fair knowledge physicians, with positive attitudes and practices of both physicians and nurses towards the infection control program. Policies that promote training of health care workers in standard precautions and ensure that infection control and prevention resources in health facilities are regularly provided are required in Sudan. Peer Review History: Received: 7 September 2021; Revised: 9 October; Accepted: 28 October, Available online: 15 November 2021 Academic Editor: Dr. A.A. Mgbahurike, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria, amaka_mgbahurike@yahoo.com UJPR follows the most transparent and toughest ‘Advanced OPEN peer review’ system. The identity of the authors and, reviewers will be known to each other. This transparent process will help to eradicate any possible malicious/purposeful interference by any person (publishing staff, reviewer, editor, author, etc) during peer review. As a result of this unique system, all reviewers will get their due recognition and respect, once their names are published in the papers. We expect that, by publishing peer review reports with published papers, will be helpful to many authors for drafting their article according to the specifications. Auhors will remove any error of their article and they will improve their article(s) according to the previous reports displayed with published article(s). The main purpose of it is ‘to improve the quality of a candidate manuscript’. Our reviewers check the ‘strength and weakness of a manuscript honestly’. There will increase in the perfection, and transparency. Received file: Reviewer's Comments: Average Peer review marks at initial stage: 6.0/10 Average Peer review marks at publication stage: 7.0/10 Reviewers: Prof. Dr. Hassan A.H. Al-Shamahy, Sana'a University, Yemen, shmahe@yemen.net.ye Dr. Bilge Ahsen KARA, Ankara Gazi Mustafa Kemal Hospital, Turkey, ahsndkyc@gmail.com Dr. A.A. Mgbahurike, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria, amaka_mgbahurike@yahoo.com Similar Articles: SURVEY OF SAFETY PRACTICES IN DIARRHEAL TREATMENT CENTERS: CHOLERA TREATMENT CENTERS IN YEMEN PREVALENCE OF CYTOMEGALOVIRUS IGG ANTIBODIES, POTENTIAL RISK FACTORS AND AWARENESS OF CONGENITAL CYTOMEGALOVIRUS AMONG FEMALE DOCTORS