Awareness and Compliance with Universal Precautions Amongst Health Workers at an Emergency Medical Service in Lagos, Nigeria

SUMMARY

Objective: To determine awareness and compliance with universal precautions amongst medical laboratory and nursing staff at an emergency medical center in Lagos, Nigeria.

Materials and Methods: Cross-sectional study design using a standardized structured self-administered questionnaire, which enquired about knowledge of the subject and the use of gloves and recapping of needles.

Results: All health workers (n=43) at the center participated in the study. Only 16% knew about universal precautions though many more (42%) had received some training on infection control. Gloves use was poor as 40% of staff used gloves for all eight listed procedures. Sixteen percent of staff ate in the work areas. 88% practiced recapping and needles while none had been vaccinated against hepatitis B. Needle stick injury in the last six months occurred amongst 14% of staff and none reported it to the hospital authorities. Only 42% of staff were deemed to be compliant with provisions of universal precautions. None of the socio-demographic characteristics of the participants was predictive of compliance.

Conclusion: Compliance with universal precautions amongst health care workers studied is poor. Niger Med J, 2003, Vol. 44(1): 13 - 16.

Key words: Universal precautions, Infection control, Needle stick injuries, Glove use.