Access to occupational postexposure prophylaxis for primary health care workers in rural Africa: a cross-sectional study.
BACKGROUND
For many primary health care workers in developing countries, the limited availability and cost of public transport hinders timely access to occupational postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) at referral hospitals. Adapted PEP training and a starter's kit (for human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B virus, and syphilis prophylaxis) could improve access.


METHODS
The evaluation method, based on the 12 steps of the decentralized phase of PEP management, calculated different scores from the responses for 51 anonymous surveys and allowed comparison among different groups. Listed obstacles and clinic visits provided further information.


RESULTS
Respondents who received in-service PEP training had significantly higher mean knowledge and confidence scores but no different mean attitude scores than those who did not. The mean total score for those who received the adapted PEP training (10.7 of 12) was significantly higher (P = .008) than for those who did not (8.8 of 12).


CONCLUSIONS
Decentralizing the first phase of PEP management for primary health care workers in rural Zimbabwe attends to an unmet need. The evaluation facilitates checking completeness of course contents, stresses the need to pay equal attention to attitudes toward the referral and reporting system, and identifies specific challenges for delivering PEP in rural settings. The finding may inspire to improve access to PEP for other health care workers and phlebotomists employed in remote areas.
De Baets
Anniek J
AJ
Nutrition and Child Health Unit, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium. anisah2@attglobal.net
Sifovo
Sibongile
S
Pazvakavambwa
Isidore E
IE
D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D006282:Health Personnel; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D017758:Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional / Q000517:prevention & control; D007318:Inservice Training; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016602:Needlestick Injuries; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D015030:Zimbabwe
D000998:Antiviral Agents