ABSTRACT
To assess the proportion of caregivers of children and patients who received malaria prevention counseling from their healthcare provider at the time of outpatient malaria treatment. Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study involving 353 randomly selected adult patients and caregivers of children attending the general and paediatric outpatient clinics of a Nigerian hospital. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect data on participants' sociodemographics and last malaria-episode characteristics. Chi square test and logistic regression analysis were used to determine factors associated with and predictors of receiving malaria-prevention counseling, respectively. Results: The mean age of the respondents was (33.6±9.6) years; they were predominantly females (257, 72.8%). Most had at least secondary-level education (304, 86.1%); the family size was mostly 1-6 persons in 202 (57.2%) respondents. They were treated mostly by doctors 256 (72.5%), but only 132 (37.4%) received malaria prevention counseling. Educational-level (χ2 =5.42, P=0.02), family size (Fisher's exact, P=0.01), place of treatment (Fisher's exact, P=0.0002), pretreatment malaria test (χ2 =9.48, P=0.002), who prescribed treatment (Fisher's exact P=0.001), consultation time (χ2 =22.09, P<0.001), and previous demand for malaria prevention counseling (X2=36.59, P<0.001) were associated with receiving malaria prevention counseling. However, consultation time [Odd ratio (OR)=2.38, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.28, 4.40, P =0.006] and previous demand for malaria prevention counseling (OR =3.62, 95% CI: 2.15, 6.10, P<0.001) were independent predictors of receiving counseling. Conclusions: The proportion of respondents that received malaria prevention counseling was surprisingly low. This offers opportunity for policy review towards improving the quality of outpatient malaria care through alternative strategies for giving malaria prevention information, especially in busy clinics where consultation time is constrained.
ABSTRACT
To assess the proportion of caregivers of children and patients who received malaria prevention counseling from their healthcare provider at the time of outpatient malaria treatment. Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study involving 353 randomly selected adult patients and caregivers of children attending the general and paediatric outpatient clinics of a Nigerian hospital. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect data on participants' sociodemographics and last malaria-episode characteristics. Chi square test and logistic regression analysis were used to determine factors associated with and predictors of receiving malaria-prevention counseling, respectively. Results: The mean age of the respondents was (33.6±9.6) years; they were predominantly females (257, 72.8%). Most had at least secondary-level education (304, 86.1%); the family size was mostly 1-6 persons in 202 (57.2%) respondents. They were treated mostly by doctors 256 (72.5%), but only 132 (37.4%) received malaria prevention counseling. Educational-level (χ
ABSTRACT
Background: The simple act of hand washing has been proven to reduce the risk of acquiring hospital infection; especially with the current concern of Ebola viral disease. Hospital acquired infections have contributed significantly to overall mortality and morbidity and health care cost. They report that hand washing remains at an unacceptable low level in most medical environments; with large numbers of doctors and nurses routinely forgetting to wash their hands before touching patients. Transmission of health-care-associated infections often occurs via the contaminated hands of health care workers. Materials and Methods: It was a descriptive cross-sectional study carried out among randomly selected doctors and nurses in Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital; Kano. The questionnaires were administered to the respondents during their ward rounds or clinic sessions. Results: One hundred and forty health professionals comprising 98 nurses and 42 doctors were studied. About 64.4% of them were aware of the World Health Organization (WHO) global hand washing day but only 15% stated the date correctly. About 99.3% of them believed that if hand washing is done correctly it can reduce the risk of infection. All (100%) of the health professionals use water and soap or hand rubs as agents of hand washing. About 93.6% were taught hand washing technique and 47% were aware of the five moments in hand washing but only 17% of them could list the five moments in hand washing. Only 25.7% health professionals knew the correct steps of hand washing (?2 = 2.444; df = 2; P = 0.295). Ninety-one percent of the health professionals had seen posters on hand washing. Majority (72.1%) adhered to principles of hand washing (?2 = 0.015; df = 1; P = 0.902) while 82.1% wash their hands before touching patients (?2 = 2.841; df = 1; P = 0.092). However; most of them (95%) washed their hands after touching patients and 97% washed their hands after handling body fluids or secretions from patients. On the other hand; only 39% health professionals washed hands before wearing hand gloves (?2 = 0.321; df = 1; P = 0.571) but 95% washed hands after removing the hand gloves. Ninety-nine percent washed their hands after visiting or using the restroom. Conclusion: This study underscores the need for continuous information and education of health professionals on the importance WHO global hand washing day. As doctors and nurses are important in the health care team; it is important to provide the appropriate knowledge and training regarding preventive practices of infectious diseases. Training and retraining of health professionals on correct steps of hand washing will encourage and remind them on the importance of washing hands before wearing gloves and before touching patients to reduce the risk of infection and cross infection