Abstract:
BACKGROUND: - Standard/universal precautions reduce the risk of transmission of blood
borne infections among patients and health care workers. Compliance with universal precautions
has been shown to reduce the risk of exposure to blood and bodily fluid.
Objective: The objective of this study is to assess the level of knowledge, attitude and practice
of the infection prevention among regular nurse students in Jimma University.
Methods: - A cross-sectional descriptive study will be conducted in Jimma University among
Regular Nurse student of 3rd and 4th year from March 28 to April 1 2013G.C with convenient
sampling. Data was collected by structured, open and closed ended questioner. Data was
analyzed by using scientific calculators and chi-square test was considered to see the association
between the dependent and independent variables.
Result: The finding of this study showed that the percentage score for knowledge and attitude
toward standard precautions were acceptable: 74.4% for knowledge and 70.3% for attitude. The
low percentage score for practice was recorded, only 58.7% of the maximum score. 166(96.5%),
162(94.2%) and 82(47.7%) of them had adequate knowledge, attitude and practice of hand
washing before and after patient care respectively. Both gender and study year had significant
association with knowledge, attitude and practice toward standard precautions (P<0.05).
Conclusion: - From the study, one can conclude that gender and study year had an effect with
knowledge, attitude and practice toward standard precautions. But the practice of standard
precautions among nursing students of Jimma University was poor. Most of the nursing student
did not comply to hand washing.
Recommendation: - the University administrators in collaboration with the nursing school has
to give emphasis on the importance of knowledge, attitude and practice toward standard
precautions and the necessary supervision has to be done by Head of nursing department.
