| ORIGINAL ARTICLE |
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| Year : 2022 | Volume
: 30
| Issue : 3 | Page : 110-115 |
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Perception of Hand Hygiene Practice among Eye Care Workers in Onitsha, Nigeria
Chizoba U Uba-Obiano, Adaora A Onyiaorah, Cyriacus U Akudinobi, Nonso E Okpala, Adanma C Ezenwa, Sebastian N.N Nwosu
Center for Eye Health Research and Training, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State; Guinness Eye Centre, Onitsha, Anambra State, Nigeria
Correspondence Address:
Dr. Adaora A Onyiaorah
Department of Ophthalmology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka Anambra State
Nigeria
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/njo.njo_13_22
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Objectives: To determine the perception of hand hygiene practice by eye care workers of a tertiary hospital in Nigeria. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of eye health workers at a tertiary hospital in Nigeria using the WHO Hand Hygiene Perception questionnaire to obtain information on different aspects of hand hygiene perception. Responses were graded as good (≥75%); moderate (50–74%); poor (<50%). Information obtained was analyzed. Results: Fifty-three eye care workers comprising 11 (20.8%) males and 42 (79.2%) females with age range 28 to 68 years; mean of 43.8 ± 9.0 years. Average work experience was 18.5 ± 9.6 years. Nurses and doctors constituted 47 (88.7%) participants. Mean overall perception score was 36.2 ± 9.0 (or 61.4%). Hand hygiene practice perception was good in 11 (20.7%), moderate in 32 (60.4%), and poor in 10 (18.9%) participants. Doctors had significantly higher mean score (39.7 ± 8.0) than nurses (33.5 ± 8.0) (P = 0.04). Fifty-one (96.2%) had soap and water at the service point but these were not always available all the time to 40 (75.5%) participants. Alcohol-based hand sanitizer was unavailable to 41 (77.4%); 13 (24.5%) participants had posters of hand washing at their service points. Fifty (94.3%) participants would want hospital management to lend greater support to hand hygiene practice. Conclusions: Hand hygiene practice perception was only moderate among the participants. Institutional support via frequent training and reminders on hand hygiene, and steady water and soap supply at service points would help to improve hand hygiene perception and practice among eye care workers.
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