ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To assess the knowledge, the attitudes, and the practices of hospital nursing staff in relation to the infectious risks of the hepatitis B and C viruses. METHODS: Cross-sectional descriptive survey conducted at the Lome Campus Teaching Hospital among the nursing staff present during at least one of the 2 consecutive workdays of the survey. RESULTS: The total nursing staff included 190 people, 115 (60.5%) of whom participated in the investigation. Slightly more than three-fifths were men (61.7%). Their mean age was 37.9 ± 10.7 years. The contaminated materials encountered most often were blood (94.8%), needle-drawn fluids (77.4%), and biopsy samples (53.9%). Staff most often did not comply with protective measures: 75.5% did not use gloves regularly and 46.0% did not use bibs. More than one third of the nursing staff (34.8%) had had such a needle-stick or related accident, but only 8.8% had reported them: 74.2% because of the potential administrative difficulties and 25.8% because of ignorance (25.8%). Staff knowledge about the means of transmission of these viruses was good (98.3%). The vaccination coverage rate of the nurses questioned was 51.3%. CONCLUSION: Training and awareness campaigns about the occupational risks of HBV and HCV remain necessary.
