Abstract
Knowledge on HIV Transmission and attitude towards providing care for people living with HIV (PLWHA) and adherence to universal precautions (UP) among attendants in the National Hospital of Sri Lanka (NHSL) Nanayakkara G A G 1, Karawita D A2 Abstract Introduction: HIV transmission knowledge, misconceptions in the society and adherence to universal precautions directly attribute to handling of PLWHIV by healthcare workers. This study was done to assess the knowledge on HIV transmission and attitudes towards PLWHIV ,Knowledge on Universal Precautions and the adherence in work place among attendants working in the NHSL. Objectives: Methods: Descriptive cross sectional study was conducted among 224 randomly selected sample of health attendants. Interviewer administered questionnaire was used for data collection which included assessments for HIV transmission knowledge (score 0-10), knowledge on universal precautions (score 0-9) and attitudes towards PLWHIV (score 0-8), final scores were computed to percentage values. Data were analysed using SPSS v23. Results: Mean age of the participants was 42 years (SD=10.41)and majority (66%) were married males. Most of them (60.3 %) had less than 10 years of working experience. A significant number had already given care to an HIV infected (65.2%). Mean values for “HIV transmission knowledge”, “adherence to Universal precautions”, and “positive attitudes for HIV care” were 84%, 40% and 70% respectively. Increased service duration significantly reduced both HIV transmission knowledge (r=-0.142: p<0.001) and knowledge on universal precautions(r=-0.299: p<0.001). Furthermore, increasing age also, was negatively associated with knowledge on UP (r=-0.393: p<0.001). Conclusions: Knowledge on HIV transmission, and positive attitude for HIV care was over 70% but adherence to universal precautions was only 40%. Increasing service duration reduce the HIV transmission knowledge and Knowledge on UP. Regular updating of knowledge regarding HIV transmission ,and on UP by in-service programme should be done and special attention should be paid on the attendants in the elderly age group who have longer service duration. Key Words: Knowledge, HIV, Attendants, attitudes
Highlights
HIV transmission knowledge, misconceptions in the society and adherence to universal precautions directly attribute to handling of People Living With HIV (PLHIV) by healthcare workers
Knowledge on HIV transmission, and positive attitude for HIV care was over 70% but adherence to universal precautions was only 40%
Regular updating of knowledge regarding HIV transmission, and on Universal Precautions (UP) by in-service programme should be done and special attention should be paid on the attendants in the elderly age group who have longer service duration
Summary
HIV transmission knowledge, misconceptions in the society and adherence to universal precautions directly attribute to handling of PLHIV by healthcare workers. (1) Sexual transmission is the predominant mode of transmission accounting for more than 90% in general, and same is true in Sri Lanka accounting for 88% of all diagnosis reported during 2016. Transmission through infected blood and body fluids via accidental injuries in health care setting is important for the health care workers. Universal Precautions (UP) are recommended by the centre for disease control (CDC) to be used when providing care to all patients irrespective of their infectious status These are the simple infection control measures which minimize the risk of transmission of blood born infections among Health Care Workers (HCW). Adherence to universal precautions by HCW is an important way to reduce their risk of exposure to blood and body fluids.(3)
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