Knowledge, attitude and practice of infection control methods among health care workers

Authors

  • Jaydeep J. Devaliya Department of Community Medicine, Baroda Medical College, Vadodara, Gujarat, India
  • Raman D. Damor Department of Community Medicine, Baroda Medical College, Vadodara, Gujarat, India
  • Bansari L. Chawada Department of Community Medicine, Baroda Medical College, Vadodara, Gujarat, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20174258

Keywords:

Bio-medical waste disposal, Urban heath care setting, Rural health care setting

Abstract

Background: Disposal of biomedical waste is neglected issue even in the urban heath care settings. So chances of transmission of infection increase which leads to high morbidity and mortality. Spread of disease can also be controlled by establishing isolation ward and it can be monitored through Hospital Infection Control Committee.

Methods: This is a cross sectional study conducted in urban and rural health care settings of Ahmedabad district to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of health care workers. In the present study 300 HCWs including Doctors, Nurses, Technicians and Servants were interviewed. Pre-tested questionnaire was used to collect the data regarding knowledge of infection control methods and various waste disposal practices.

Results: Only 51% of health care workers were aware about the Isolation ward and 60% of HCWs were aware about hospital infection control committee. 87% nurses were correctly disposing gloves in urban health care settings. All the HCWs were using disposable syringe. Even in urban settings also 33% of doctors and 20% of nurses were recapping needle after using it.

Conclusions: Constant reinforcement of knowledge should be done and regular training should be given to change the behavior regarding biomedical waste disposal. 

References

CDC, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Disease, Guide to Infection Prevention for Out Patient Settings: Minimum Expectation for Safe Care. Page 4.

Curran E. Reducing the risk of health care acquired infection. Nurs Stand. 2001;16:45-52.

Sharbaugh RJ. The risk of occupational exposure and infection with infectious disease. Nurs Clin North Am. 1999;34:493-506.

Rutala WA, Odette RL, Samsa GP. Management of infectious waste by U.S. hospitals. JAMA. 1989;262:1635–40.

Garner JS, Favero MS. Guideline for hand washing and hospital environmental control. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control, 1985. Document No. 99–1117. Infect Control. 1986;7:231–43.

Bio-medical waste (management and handling) Rules, 2011. Government of India, Ministry of Environment and Forest. Available at: http://www.moef.nic.in/downloads/public-information/salient-features-draft-bmwmh.pdf. Accessed on 12 April 2012.

Hospital infection control committee. In: Dr. Ashok Sahni’s Hospital and Health Administration, 2010:37-42.

Kotwal A, Taneja DK. Health Care Workers and Universal Precautions: Perceptions and Determinants of Non-compliance. Indian J Community Med. 2010;35(4):526-8.

Alp E, Leblebicioglu H, Doganay M, Voss A. Infection Control Practice in Countries with limited resources. Annals Clin Microbiol Antimicrobials. 2011;10:36-9.

Suchitra JB, Devi NL. Impace of education on Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices among various categories of health care workers on nosocomial infections. Indian J Med Microbiol. 2007;25(3):181-7.

Hakim SA, Mohsen A, Bark I. Knowledge, attitudes and practices of health-care personnel towards waste disposal management at Ain Shams University Hospitals, Cairo. East Mediterr Health J. 2014;20(5):347-54.

Sanjeev R, Kuruvilla S, Subramaniam R, Prashant PS, Gopalakrishnan M. Knowledge, attitude, and practices about biomedical waste management among dental healthcare personnel in dental colleges in Kothamangalam: A cross-sectional study. Health Sci. 2014;13:1-12.

Das SK, Biswas R. Awareness and practice of biomedical waste management among healthcare providers in a Tertiary Care Hospital of West Bengal, India. Int J Med Public Health. 2016;6:19-25.

Downloads

Published

2017-09-22

How to Cite

Devaliya, J. J., Damor, R. D., & Chawada, B. L. (2017). Knowledge, attitude and practice of infection control methods among health care workers. International Journal Of Community Medicine And Public Health, 4(10), 3825–3829. https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20174258

Issue

Section

Original Research Articles