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Awareness Of HIV / AIDS Among Hospital Workers
Abstract
Objective: To determine the knowledge of a) HIV /AIDS among workers in a teaching Hospital, b) risk of HIV infection among hospital workers and c) precautionary measures against HIV infection in the hospital setting.
Methods: 159 randomly selected workers of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital Nnewi Nigeria were interviewed using an open –ended questionnaire on aetiology, pathogenesis, prevention, spread and risk of occupational transmission of HIV infection. Data analysis was done with EPI- INFO 2000. The chi – square test was used for statistical analysis and the 0.05 level of significance was adopted
Result: There were 68 males and 91 females aged between 20 and 60 years drawn from 10 departments, Administration, Security, Domestic services, Nursing services, Laboratory, Laundry, Tailoring ,Pharmacy Mortuary and Works .Their level of education varied from no formal education to above senior school certificate. Respondents exhibited a fair understanding of HIV/AIDS. Awareness was more in workers below 40 years and those with higher education. There was no significant gender difference in knowledge. Certain misconceptions were noted. There was knowledge deficit in etiopathogenesis of HIV infection and of exposure to and prevention of infection in the health care worker. Nurses, pharmacists and laboratory technologists showed superior knowledge of HIV /AIDS than others.
Conclusion: There is a need for health education lectures for all cadres of health care workers so as to reduce occupational transmission of HIV infection
KEY WORDS: Awareness, Hospital workers, HIV AIDS
Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice Vol.6(2) 2003: 102-106
Methods: 159 randomly selected workers of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital Nnewi Nigeria were interviewed using an open –ended questionnaire on aetiology, pathogenesis, prevention, spread and risk of occupational transmission of HIV infection. Data analysis was done with EPI- INFO 2000. The chi – square test was used for statistical analysis and the 0.05 level of significance was adopted
Result: There were 68 males and 91 females aged between 20 and 60 years drawn from 10 departments, Administration, Security, Domestic services, Nursing services, Laboratory, Laundry, Tailoring ,Pharmacy Mortuary and Works .Their level of education varied from no formal education to above senior school certificate. Respondents exhibited a fair understanding of HIV/AIDS. Awareness was more in workers below 40 years and those with higher education. There was no significant gender difference in knowledge. Certain misconceptions were noted. There was knowledge deficit in etiopathogenesis of HIV infection and of exposure to and prevention of infection in the health care worker. Nurses, pharmacists and laboratory technologists showed superior knowledge of HIV /AIDS than others.
Conclusion: There is a need for health education lectures for all cadres of health care workers so as to reduce occupational transmission of HIV infection
KEY WORDS: Awareness, Hospital workers, HIV AIDS
Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice Vol.6(2) 2003: 102-106
