Knowledge and practice of hand hygiene among patients' relatives in Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) Jos-Nigeria.

Abstract

Background: Healthcare associated infections (HAIs) are drawing increasing attention from patients, care-givers, government and regulatory bodies. This is not only because of the problem in terms of the associated morbidity, mortality and cost of treatment but also due to the growing recognition that most of these are preventable. Justification: The medical community is witnessing an unprecedented advancement of infections transmission. There is now undisputed evidence that strict adherence to hand hygiene reduces the potential risk of cross-transmission of infection among patients to their relations and even to the medical practitioners. Aim and objectives: The study creates awareness among patients and relatives towards reducing cross infection in tertiary hospital in Jos. Methodology: The study used a survey method to assess the patients’ relations in Jos University teaching Hospital (JUTH) using 345 volunteers. Responses on 12 variables were assessed and analyzed using SPSS 21. Result: 162 (47.o %) males and 183 (53.0%) female relatives participated. 234 (67.2%) of the patients relative are from the age of 40 years and below. 200 (58.0%) participants are urban dwellers, 140 (40.6%) rural dwellers and only 5 (1.4%) did not indicate their location. Educational background shows that 18 (5.2%) of patient’s relations are illiterate, 34 (9.9%) attended at least primary school while 116 (33.6%) have attended secondary school level and about 177 (51.3%) have attended up to tertiary education. Knowledge of Hospital acquired infections gave 284 (82.3%) Yes and 61 (17.7%) had not heard of HAIs. On the knowledge of pathogens transmission 296 (85.8%) said Yes and (13.6%) had no knowledge of it. On the knowledge of hand hygiene, 297 (86.1%) were aware and 48 (13.9%) did not. Before leaving the Hospital, 110 (31.9%) do wash hands, 235 (68.1%) do not wash their hands. After leaving the hospital, 95 (22.9%) do wash hand always, 182 (52.8%) sometimes and 68 (19.7%) do not care about washing hands. Patient relations washed their hands, 107 (31.0%) using water only, 210 (60.9%) used soap and water, 10 (2.9%) used ashes and water and 18 (5.2%) used sanitizer. Unfortunately, 17 (4.9%) do not have time to wash hands, to 11 (3.2%) washing hands was not necessary, 57 (16.5%) did forget and 45 (13.0%) hands always look clean but 119 (34.5%) do not have provisions for hand hygiene. Conclusion: The study supports the agenda of the world health organization (WHO) on patient and their relations safety programs, it is high time that developing countries including Nigeria formulated the much-needed policies for implementation of basic infection prevention practices in healthcare set-ups such as hand hygiene policy starting from Jos University Teaching Hospital.