Knowledge, Attitude and factors affecting Practice of the housekeeping staff of the five hospitals under the Addis Ababa Regional Health bureau toward the utilization of personal protective equipments.

Abstract

Back ground The Addis Ababa Regional Health bureau, under its jurisdiction, runs a number of health facilities; clinics, health centers, and hospitals. The hospitals under the bureau are five in number namely, Menelik II, Yekatit 12, Zewditu, Ras Desta, and Gandhi Memorial hospitals.Menelik II hospital being the first ever built in the country. All are general referral hospitals, except, Gandhi Memorial, specialized in obstetric service. Generally, these hospitals are staffed with 2006 technical and support staff of which 197 are housekeeping staff whom are vulnerable group to contract HAIs. Determining the level of KAP is crucial in preventing the group from facility based infections like HIV/AIDS, HBV, and HCV…etc. Objective: The objective of this study is to assess the level of knowledge and attitude of the study subjects toward PPE. Also to assess the socio-demographic and availability factors affecting practice of housekeeping staff of hospitals under the AARHB in utilization of personal protective equipments and determine methods of improvements of utilization of personal protective equipment and enhance the proper utilization of PPEs. Methods: A cross sectional quantitative study was carried out from October through December 2009. The entire house- keeping staff (N=197) of these hospitals were identified and surveyed with a structured questionnaire to measure knowledge and attitudes regarding the use of PPEs. One third of the study subjects were selected through simple random statistical method (lottery) and observed over a two-week period with a structured checklist to measure practice of using PPEs. The association of KAP with level of formal education and their age analyzed. The association of practices with facility (hospital) daily availability of needed supplies of PPEs was assessed. The questionnaire and observation check–list was pilot–tested prior to the commencement of the actual data collection in another similar setting.Results The overall response rate was 87.8%. The distribution of respondents revealed that 34%, 23%, 17%, 16%, and 9.8% were from Menelik II, yekatit 12, Gandhi, Ras Desta, and Zewditu memorial hospitals. Female respondents accounted for 77.5% and the rest 22.5% are male respondents. Their educational status ranges from illiterate (8.1%) to college graduates (6.4%). Respondents between the age group18-49 years of age, 89% of them scored more than 70% of the knowledge items. From the total respondents aging 50 years and above, 100% of them scored more than 70% of the knowledge items. The x2=( n=171,df=1 and p=0.443) o.589 at 95% CI. This showed that age is not significantly associated with knowledge of PPE. Of the total illiterate group 2(1.12%) scored less than 70% of the knowledge item x2= (n=173,df=4and p=<0.05) 22.98 at 95% CI. This showed that educational level is not significantly associated with knowledge of PPE. More than 70% of both age groups (18-49 and 50 and above), scored 70% of the attitudinal items. The relation between attitude of the respondent to PPE and their age was not statistically significant with the calculated chi square test result equals (n=173,df=1,and p=0.270) 1.217. From all the eleven respondents who scored ,< 70% of the attitudinal item 50% were from secondary level of education. None, (0.00%) of respondents from illiterate group scored < 70% of the attitudinal items. The unavailability of goggles was more acute than other PPEs followed by gumboots and apron with their respective rate 88.4%, 62.4%, and 46.8% of unavailability which has contributed to the less utilization of these items. Conclusions All respondents regardless of their age and educational level have good knowledge and attitude both data on the survey and observations confirmed the finding. Though it is not statistically significant, there is a trend that the attitude of respondents was better at the lower level of education. Of all PPEs, the scarcity of goggle was more serious in almost all hospitals followed by gumboots and apron. Gloves and gowns are the most abundant PPE material of all.The problem of not using certain PPEs like goggle, apron and gumboots has very much to do with the scarcity of these materials. Recommendation Effort should be exerted by the respective hospital management to give due attention since housekeeping staffs are vulnerable group. The hospital management should give more attention in providing scarce PPEs. A continuous training program should be designed to strengthen the already existing level of awareness of the housekeeping sta