KNOWLEDGE OF STANDARD PRECAUTIONS AND BARRIERS TO COMPLIANCE AMONG HEALTH WORKERS IN MCH AZUIYIOKWU

Standard precautions are the baseline functions care providers perform to limit infection. Regardless of a patient's confirmed or suspected health status, it is an expected practice for care providers to use standard precautions any time they're caring for patients in a healthcare setting. This study was aimed to determine the knowledge of standard precautions and barriers to compliance among health workers in MCH Azuiyiokwu, Abakaliki Ebonyi State. The objectives of the study were; to asses the level of health care workers’ knowledge of Standard precautions, to determine the level of compliance with standard precaution among health workers in MCH Azuiyiokwu, to identify the barriers to practice of standard precautions among health workers in MCH Azuiuiokwu . A descriptive survey research design was used and questions were formulated making use of the objectives of the study and research questions. Total population was 27 health workers, due to the number of the population, the researcher draw sample size for the study and sampling technique was applied because the researcher sample the population. A self-designed questionnaire was used as the instrument for data collection. The data collected were analyzed using SPSS version 20, and values were presented using tables, frequency and percentages. From the findings of the data analyzed, it was observed that; all the respondents 27(100%) have good knowledge of standard precautions by responding positively to the questions that assessed the level of knowledge of standard precautions. The study as well showed that respondents had good compliance to standard precautions (mean 2.73). Meanwhile, the respondents had poor compliance on washing hands before wearing gloves/any procedure(mean 2.44), and use of face mask(mean 2.37). This study further identified major barriers to compliance with standard precautions to include uncomfortable nature of PPE 18(66.67%). 21(77.78%) reported that Practice of Standard precautions is time consuming.21(77.78%) highlighted Unavailability of protective equipment as a barrier to compliance with standard precautions. And 20(74.07%) identified excess workload as a barrier to compliance with standard precautions. Recommendations were made based on the study which includes Health workers should continue to comply with standard precautions in order to prevent occupational hazard and the spread of infectious diseases that could be transmitted as a a result of non-compliance to standard precautions, health institutions should organise seminar at regular intervals to educate health workers about standard precautions, health institutions should make policies to guide the practice of standard precautions and also ensure that health workers are instructed and observed regularly on the practice of standard precautions and government should ensure adequate provision and supply of equipments such as face mask, gloves, waste bin etc that will enhance compliance to standard precautions.