KNOWLEDGE AND AVAILABILITY OF SAFETY EQUIPMENT TOWARDS PREVENTION OF HEALTHCARE-ASSOCIATED INFECTIONS AMONG PRIMARY HEALTHCARE WORKERS IN KWARA STATE NIGERIA

Abstract

Abstract This study assessed knowledge and availability of safety equipment towards prevention of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) among primary healthcare workers in Kwara State Nigeria. Ex-post facto research design was used. The population comprises all primary healthcare workers (PHCWs) in Government owned primary healthcare facilities across Kwara State Nigeria (with 2,760 PHCWs). A total of 760 respondents were sampled from the above population, using multistage sampling techniques. Instrument used, were YES or NO and the 4-point Likert rating scale format of questionnaire which were validated by experts and tested for reliability. A total of 760 questionnaire were administered and returned. Descriptive statistics of frequency counts and percentages were used to describe demographic information of respondents, mean and standard deviation were used for the research questions while inferential statistics of one sample t.test statistics were used to analyse the significance of knowledge and availability of safety equipment towards preventing HAIs in Kwara State. Results revealed that: PHCWs have significant knowledge but poor availability of safety equipment towards preventing HAIs (all at p-values less than 0.05 alpha level of significance). In conclusion, PHCWs have positive knowledge but inadequate availability of safety equipment towards preventing HAIs in Kwara State Nigeria. Recommendations among others includes: Government should maintain training of primary healthcare workers; adequate provision of safety equipment and enforcement of global best practices towards the prevention of healthcare-associated infections in Kwara State.

Keywords: Healthcare-Associated Infections, Primary Healthcare Workers, Primary Healthcare.