Personal hygiene practices and safety measures among governmental hospitals' staff in Beni-Swief governorate

ABSTRACT

Personal hygiene is one of the most effective ways to protect ourselves and others from illness. Safety measures also include application of standard precautions, education and training for protection of health care workers. The aim of this study was to assess personal hygiene practices and safety measures of health care workers [HCWs] in all governmental, teaching, and non-teaching, Hospitals in Beni-Sweif Governorate. The study was conducted in Beni-Sweif University Hospital, Insurance I hospital, and Ministry of Health and Population Hospital in Beni Sweif Governorate using a descriptive design. It included all nurses [n=421], physicians [n=132], and housekeeping personnel [n=73]. Data collection tools were a structured interview questionnaire form and an observation checklist. The results revealed that, most nurses were females [91.0%], compared to 22.7% of the doctors. More than half of the doctors [53.0%] received the three full doses of HBV, compared 10 41.8% of the nurses [p-0.024]. Overall, 63.2% of the nurses had adequate practice in personal safety compared to 81.1% of the doctors [p<0.001]. The University Hospital nurses had the highest performance in personal safety [79.5%], while the Insurance Hospital had the lowest [42.5%], [p=0.001]. The workers had highest performance with gloving and personal hygiene, and lowest in personal protection measures. The study recommended implementation of a healthcare workers' vaccination program which must be mandatory with provision of all needed equipment and supplies for infection control. Continuing and in-service training programs are needed to improve skills of personal hygiene and safety measures especially for nurses. Workers need training in the use of personal protective equipment, which should be made available to them