Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of HIV Post-Exposure Prophylaxis among Medical Doctors in a Tertiary Hospital in Nigeria

• Published in: West African journal of medicine Vol. 37; no. 1; p. 19
• Main Authors: Umoh, V A, Jombo, H E, Ekpo, O, Amanari, C O
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Nigeria 01-01-2020
• Subjects: Adult; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; HIV Infections - drug therapy; HIV Infections - prevention & control; Humans; Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional - prevention & control; Male; Middle Aged; Nigeria; Occupational Exposure - prevention & control; Physicians; Post-Exposure Prophylaxis; Surveys and Questionnaires; Tertiary Care Centers; Nigeria
• ISSN: 0189-160X

Healthcare workers are exposed to accidental infections from contaminated body fluids in the course of their duties. HIV post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is the measure instituted to manage exposure to potentially contaminated body fluids and prevent HIV infection. Ignorance of the appropriate measures to take may increase the risk of acquiring HIV infection from accidental exposure. This survey was conducted to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of HIV PEP among doctors in a tertiary hospital.
This was a cross-sectional survey. A pretested structured questionnaire was administered on randomly selected doctors from all clinical departments of a tertiary hospital. The questionnaire assessed the knowledge, attitude and practice of HIV PEP according to the WHO guidelines. A score of > 75% was adequate for each area.
Fifty-one completed questionnaires were returned out of 56 giving a response rate of 91%. The total knowledge score was 60.0 ± 10.2% (mean ± SD). The total score in attitude towards PEP was 66.5 ± 12.2% while for practice it was 47.5 ± 27.0%. There was a significant correlation between participant's knowledge and practice (rho = 0.316, p <0.05) as well as between attitude and practice (rho= 0.393, p< 0.01). There was no significant difference in scores in relation to the cadre or department.
This study reveals that the knowledge, attitude and practice of HIV PEP among doctors is generally not adequate. Enhanced education will reduce the risk of accidental HIV infection among doctors.