Improving universal precautions and client teaching for rural health workers: a peer-group  intervention.
Health workers can contribute to HIV prevention by minimizing HIV transmission in health facilities and increasing client teaching. We offered a peer-group intervention for Malawian rural health workers to build their universal precautions and teaching skills. A quasi-experimental design using independent sample surveys and observations compared health workers in an intervention and delayed intervention control district at baseline and at 15 and 30 months post-intervention. Controlling for demographic factors, the intervention district had more reported HIV teaching at 15 and 30 months and also had higher universal precautions knowledge and fewer needle stick injuries at 30 months. Observations at 15 and 30 months post-intervention showed higher levels of teaching in the intervention district. Observed glove wearing and hand washing were also higher at 30 months. This intervention should be made available for health workers in Malawi and provides a potential model for other high-HIV prevalence countries.
Nursing, Midwifery and Health Sciences Research Centre, Kamuzu College of Nursing, University of Malawi, Lilongwe, Malawi.
Diana L
DL
Jere
Chrissie P N
CP
Kaponda
Angela
A
Chimwaza
Kathleen S
KS
Crittenden
Sitingawawo I
SI
Kachingwe
Linda L
LL
McCreary
James L
JL
Norr
Kathleen
K
Norr
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000517:prevention & control; D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008295:Malawi; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010379:Peer Group; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012423:Rural Health; D016635:Universal Precautions / Q000379:methods*