EFFECT OF HEALTH EDUCATION PROGRAM ABOUT BLOOD BORNE PATHOGENS (BBPS) TRANSMISSION ON PRIMARY HEALTH CARE WORKERS IN ISMAILIA CITY (AN INTERVENTION STUDY) | ||
| Egyptian Journal of Occupational Medicine | ||
| Article 2, Volume 37, Issue 2, July 2013, Pages 121-139 PDF (224.23 K) | ||
| Document Type: Study paper | ||
| DOI: 10.21608/ejom.2013.778 | ||
| Authors | ||
| El-Leithy N.; El-Tokhy H; Sheta S | ||
| Department of Community, Environmental &Occupational Medicine,Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Egypt | ||
| Abstract | ||
| Introduction: Among 35 million Health Care Workers worldwide, about 3 million primary health care workers (PHCWs) experience percutaneous exposures to blood borne pathogens (BBPs) each year, these percutaneous injuries may result in 15000 HCV and 70000 HBV and 1000 HIV infections, which lead to about 1100 deaths and significant disabilities. More than 90% of these infections occur in developing countries. Aim of Work: The present study was conducted for prevention of BBPs transmission to HCWs through: determining their base line knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding Blood Borne Infectious Diseases (BBIPs) transmission, prevention and control, preparing and adopting a health education program for primary health care workers safety against BBIPs and evaluation for recommended generalization. Materials and Methods: A concise situational analysis was done first, then, an intervention health education program was conducted in all primary health care centers present in Ismailia city (4 centers) aiming to improve knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of 170 PHCWs (physicians, nurses and technicians who accepted to participate in this research) about BBPs, related universal precautions (UP) and preventive measures. Evaluation of this intervention was done by assessment of the change in PHCWs KAP regarding BBIDs UP and preventive measures. Results: This study showed that (45.9%) of PHCWs had complete courses of HBV vaccination, also 39.4% of PHCWs received at least one previous training course related to BBIDs. About 41.8% of PHCWs were exposed to needle sticks injuries in the last year, where workers, nurses and laboratory technicians had a higher percentage of exposure more than dentists and physicians. Nearly 34.4% of subjects, who tested, were seropositive for BBIDs. Mean total knowledge score of 5.23 ± 2.13 and 4.31 ± 2.17 About BBIDs and UP respectively with a highly significant difference (P < 0.05). Also, PHCWs in Ismailia City have a high significant positive attitude towards UP and preventive measures (P < 0.001) while no significant difference was detected regarding their practice to most items of UP whereas (55.3%) have a poor practice of UP for BBIDs. After application of health education program, there was a highly significant improvement (P< 0.001) in the PHCWs knowledge regarding blood spells, no two-handed recapping of needles and hand washing after dealing with the patient (improved mean total knowledge score about BBIDs among all PHCWs except the physicians) but no improvement in workers’ knowledge about sharp waste disposal. Conclusion and Recommendation: Although health education got a positive impact on PHCWs’ safety by improvement of their knowledge and attitude regarding BBIDs and its UP, but still they have poor practice regarding UP of BBIPs. We recommend that HCWS training, to be available for free, complete coverage of vaccinations together with continuous supervision for UP application and post exposure management. | ||
| Keywords | ||
| Healthcare workers; safety; blood borne pathogens; needle stick injuries | ||
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