Abstract
Background
In many studies, the knowledge of standard precautions by healthcare workers was reported to be low. Data regarding knowledge and compliance with standard precautions at the primary care level is scarce. This study aimed at investigating the knowledge and compliance with standard precautions among healthcare workers with less than 10 years of work experience and those with 10 years and above.
Aims and Objectives
The study aims to investigate and describe the knowledge, opinion and levels of compliance with standard precautionss that exist among health care workers with less than 10 years of work experience and determine the factors associated with knowledge, opinion and levels of compliance, in region F, Johannesburg Metro district.
Methods
A health facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted from July to August 2021 in the Johannesburg Metro area, region F. Three hundred and forty healthcare workers at the primary healthcare facilities were asked to complete the self-administered questionnaire regarding knowledge and compliance with standard precautions. A Stratified random sampling method was chosen. This study utilised the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 16 for the analysis. Descriptive statistics such as frequency, and percentage, were applied to describe the socio-demographic characteristics of the study sample. Bivariate analysis was done to assess the relationship between knowledge and categorical variables such as Age, Gender, marital status and level of education.
Results
Overall, 289 (85%) of participants followed SPs with all patients all the time. This showed a level of compliance with standard precautions. The odds of being knowledgeable were 1.42 times (OR=1.42, 95%CI: 1.15-2.26) more likely for those HCWs who had 10 or more years of experience than those who had fewer years of experience. In the adjusted, the odds of being knowledgeable were 59% times (AOR=1.59, 95%CI: 1.08-3.08) more likely for those HCWs who had 10 or more years of experience than those who had fewer years of experience. Female HCWs were more likely to provide positive perceptions (agree/strongly agree to perception questions) compared to male HCWs with increased odds of 1.78 (95%CI: 1.59-1.88) and this was statistically significant. Participants aged 40 years and above were 1.48 times (95%CI: 1.21-1.56) more likely to provide positive perception (agree/strongly agree to opinion questions) compared to the younger participants and this was statistically significant. In the univariate analysis, those aged more than 40 years were 1.75 times (95%CI: 1.06-2.88) more likely to comply compared to the younger age group. In the adjusted analysis, those who were more experienced (10 years and above) were 1.25 times (95%CI: 1.06-1.46) more likely to comply compared to those who had less experience. In the univariates analysis, the odds of being knowledgeable increased by 6% (OR=1.07, 95%CI: 1.001-1.13) while in the adjusted analysis the odds of being knowledgeable increased by 6% (AOR=1.06, 95%CI: 1.01-1.12) among those with positive perceptions about SP.
Conclusion and Recommendation
Most of the HCWs were knowledgeable, had positive perceptions and complied with SPs. The 85% of participants who followed SPs with all patients all the time is commendable. More focus on SPs training should be made for new employees. Training programmes and workshops on benefits of compliance with SP targeting mainly those less than 10 years work experience may be organised at health facility level on a regular basis. Motivational ways for HCWs to improve their perception of risk reduction practices may be explored and implemented to enhance compliance. Once people have positive perceptions, they are more likely to become more compliant with standard precautions.
Key Words
Standard precautions, healthcare workers, compliance