Assessment of Knowledge, Attitude And Practice of Health Care Workers on Infection Prevention in Health Institution Bahir Dar City Administration

Abstract

Infection in healthcare facilities is a major public health problem in most developing countries like Ethiopia. Currently the overall incidence of health care associated infection has been increased and burden of these infections is staggering. Thus, it is important to identify the level of health care workers knowledge, attitude and practice in study area and identifying gaps for better intervention. Objectives: The objective of this study was to assess the level of knowledge, attitude and practice of health care workers on infection prevention and associated factors in the health institution. Methods: Institution based cross sectional study was conducted in April, 2012 in health facilities found in Bahirdar city administration. Data were collected using pre tested questionnaire on 354 health care workers selected by simple random sampling technique. The study was supplemented by observation. Collected data were checked, coded and entered into EPI –Info version 3.5.2 and transferred to SPSS version 16 for analysis. Both bivariate and multiple logistic regression analysis was done. Variables had P-value less than 0.2 in bivariate analysis entered in to multiple logistic regressions to control confounders. Frequency, Mean and other statistics were calculated. P-value less than 0.05 were set as statistically significant. Result: Overall knowledge score of respondents were 84.5% and about 55.6% had positive attitude and 54.2% of respondents' had safe infection prevention practice. Result of multiple logistic regression analysis showed that working in hospital (AOR= 2.54; 95%CI (1.12, 5.75)), working experience greater than10years (AOR= 3.79 (95% CI=2.33, 6.17)) and availability PPE (AOR= 6.79 (95% CI=2.83, 17.27)) had positive association with infection prevention. Conclusion: Though participants had better knowledge and positive attitude their practice of infection prevention was not optimum as per the national guide line. Therefore improving institutional supplies like hand hygiene material, PPE, water supply and TST may improve safe infection prevention practice.