Abstract
BackgroundSeveral studies have found that compliance with universal precautions (UP) reduces the risk of exposure to diseases transmitted through blood and body fluids. Several efforts were made during the 2014 Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak in Nigeria to ensure a better behavioral change toward the practice of UP. ObjectivesThis study assessed knowledge, attitude, and practice of the use of universal safety precautions among health care workers in a tertiary hospital in Osun State in southwestern Nigeria, 1 year after the containment of the EVD epidemic in Nigeria. MethodsDescriptive cross-sectional study among 274 health care workers of LAUTECH Teaching Hospital Osogbo, selected using systematic sampling method. Data collected using semistructured, pretested questionnaires were analyzed using SPSS software version 17.0 (Chicago, IL, SPSS Inc.). FindingsTwo hundred twenty (80.3%) washed their hands regularly after procedures, 256 (93.4%) used gloves regularly when caring for all patients, 100 (36.5%) said they occasionally recap needles carefully, and 250 (91.2%) said they properly handled and disposed sharp instruments and wastes. About 224 (81.8%) had good mean knowledge score, 154 (56.2%) had a positive attitude score, and 192 (70.1%) had a good mean practice score for UP among respondents. The practice of UP was statistically significantly associated with gender, years of work experience (P = .002), and knowledge of (P = .039) and attitude about UP (P = .007). ConclusionsThe good knowledge and practice scores of UP were associated with better attitude toward handwashing and the use of gloves during the post-EVD period compared with the pre-EVD period. A significant proportion still recap used needles just like during the pre-EVD period.
Highlights
The year 2014 witnessed the largest outbreak of the Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak in someWest African countries, including Nigeria
About 220 (80.3%) said they wash their hands regularly after procedures, 256 (93.4%) said they use gloves regularly when caring for all patients, 100 (36.5%) said they use gloves regularly when caring for high-risk patients, another 100 (36.5%) said they occasionally recap needles carefully, and 250 (91.2%) said they properly handle and dispose sharp instruments and wastes
The majority of respondents in our study believed that health care workers (HCWs) are at high risk of EVD, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections and that universal precautions (UP) can prevent occupational exposures to these infections and should be used regularly
Summary
The year 2014 witnessed the largest outbreak of the Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak in some. On August 8, 2014, the World Health Organization (WHO) identified the EVD outbreak in West Africa as an extraordinary event and a Public Health. Several studies have found that compliance with universal precautions (UP) reduces the risk of exposure to diseases transmitted through blood and body fluids. Several efforts were made during the 2014 Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak in Nigeria to ensure a better behavioral change toward the practice of UP
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