Thesis (MPH))University of Limpopo (Medunsa Campus), 2011. / Introduction: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a highly infectious virus responsible for considerable morbidity and mortality world wide. Chronic HBV carriers can transmit HBV parenterally in a hospital setting putting healthcare workers (HCWs) and their patients at risk of infection.
Aim and objectives: This study aimed to investigate knowledge, attitudes and practices towards prevention and control of HBV amongst nurses, doctors and laboratory personnel. Objectives were to determine: (a) the knowledge; (b) the attitudes; (c) the practices of nurses, doctors and laboratory personnel; (d) if there are any associations between (1) knowledge and practice, and (2) attitudes and practice; (e) the predictors of HBV vaccination uptake.
Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study. Self-administered questionnaires were distributed to doctors, laboratory staff and nurses at Princess Marina Hospital.
Results: Two hundred questionnaires were distributed and a total of 117 were returned, giving an overall response rate of 58.5%. More doctors had good knowledge (38.9% [7/18]), followed by 20% (4/20) of laboratory staff and 11.4% (9/79) of nurses. Most staff (100% [20/20] of laboratory staff; 97.5% [77/79] of nurses; 94.4% [17/18] of doctors) had positive attitudes. More laboratory staff (100 [20/20]) displayed good practices, followed by nurses (94.9% [75/79]); and lastly doctors (88.9% [16/18]). There were no significant associations between knowledge or attitudes and practices. Vaccination was inadequate, with 50.9% (59/116) of HCWs having received at least one dose, and of these only 61% (36/59) receiving all 3 doses. Needle stick injuries occurred in 31.6% (37/117), while 33.9% (39/115) reported blood or body fluid splashes. None of the HCWs accessed PEP after exposure. Being a laboratory worker (OR: 148.4) or doctor (OR: 125.7) were the only predictors of vaccination uptake.
Conclusion:
There is need to increase knowledge of HCWs, vaccination availability, vaccination uptake, PEP, and reduce the exposures of HCWs.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:ul/oai:ulspace.ul.ac.za:10386/457 |
| Date | January 2011 |
| Creators | Machiya, Tichaona |
| Contributors | Burnett, Rosemary |
| Publisher | University of Limpopo (Medunsa Campus) |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | xv, 93 leaves. |
| Relation | Adobe Acrobat Reader, version 6.0 |
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