ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The burden of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) is very high and compliance with infection control practices is poor in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). Hand hygiene (HH) being the most important measure to prevent HAIs, the present study was conducted to assess the gap in knowledge, perceptions, and practices of healthcare providers (HCPs) regarding HH and also to know the barriers in adherence to HH practices. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This questionnaire-based cross-sectional study was carried out among 400 HCPs for 1 year. HH practices of HCPs were observed by a trained investigator followed by filling of the preformed proforma by HCPs. The quantitative data were analyzed using Epi info (Version 7) statistical software while qualitative analysis was done to generate themes. RESULTS: The compliance to HH was higher among nurses (78.3%) than consultants (49.5%) and residents (39.1%). Compliance was more in ICUs (71.4%) than wards (58.3%). Knowledge about HH was found to be 73.8% among consultants and 71.6% among residents, whereas HH opportunities availed by them were only 49.5% and 39.1%, respectively revealing a knowledge-practice gap. The main barriers to adherence to HH as perceived by HCPs were lack of awareness despite adequate knowledge, time constraints, heavy workload, and so on. CONCLUSIONS: In our study, we found that despite adequate knowledge, consultants and residents showed lower compliance with HH practices as compared to nurses. Increasing awareness regarding HH guidelines through frequent sensitization sessions decreased workload, and strict surveillance may help in bridging the knowledge-practice gap.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: It is a matter of grave concern that a girl child continues to be insecure and vulnerable in the state of Punjab. To ingrain gender equality in social system, it is very important to make community an important stakeholder to deal with the situation. This study focuses on the awareness and perceptions of anganwadi workers regarding girl child discrimination and female feticide. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 2206 anganwadi workers between the age group of 20-70 years of different blocks of Ludhiana district, Punjab, were enrolled. They had come for Anganwadi Worker (AWW) Training Workshop, organized at Urban Health Centre, Ludhiana, Punjab. Data were analyzed in terms of proportions. RESULTS: Study subjects showed high level of awareness about female feticide (98.8%). A majority of the subjects (93.3%) agreed to the fact that practice of discrimination is being followed between boys and girls. They were also of the opinion that this practice is harmful and it should be stopped (98.9%). Various contributing factors enumerated by them included sons are intelligent, carry on family lineage, and they take care of their parents in old age. Regarding perception of anganwadi workers for curbing this social evil, 70.7% of subjects were of the view that by giving equal opportunities, equal status to girls, and empowering girls, this practice can be stopped, while 42.4% of the subjects were of the view that increasing awareness among the rural women, parents, and family is the solution to stop this practice. CONCLUSION: The anganwadi workers had optimum level of awareness about female feticide and almost all of them strongly felt that this harmful practice should be stopped altogether.
