title: Risk of infection among primary health workers in the Western Development Region, Nepal: knowledge and compliance.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Without protective practices such as antiseptic hand washing, the use of sterile/surgical gloves, safe needles, sterile equipment, and safe instrument and waste disposal procedures outlined in universal precaution guidelines, basic health workers (BHWs) are at substantial risk of blood-borne infections.
  
  
  METHODS
  This paper draws on research conducted in 28 primary health care centers in two districts of the Western Development Region, Nepal, between 2003 and 2004. Interviews were conducted to identify the infection control knowledge and practice compliance of basic health workers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 100 BHWs studied, only 22% had correct knowledge of universal precautions and 73% said they follow universal precaution guidelines. A total of 62% reported that they regularly used protective gloves while handling patients and 72% reported that they never used high-level disinfection to eliminate all microorganisms (bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites, including bacterial endospores) from instruments and other items that would come into contact with broken skin or intact mucous membranes.  Reasons for noncompliance included irregular supply of materials (31%); lack of an autoclave and other high-level disinfection equipment (50%); lack of knowledge and insufficient technical skills regarding universal precaution procedures (20%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results showed that poor knowledge and an irregular supply of materials, equipment, and instruments prevented BHWs from using infection control measures. Formal training in universal precautions is urgently needed, and protective equipment must be provided and use must be monitored. Compliance to infection control procedures must be improved at primary health care units, especially among the basic health workers.
authors.affiliation: College of Health and Medical Sciences, AAI-DU, India. narhari2k@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Narhari
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Timilshina
authors.forename: Mohammad Aslam
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Ansari
authors.forename: Vinita
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Dayal
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D005260:Female; D019983:Guideline Adherence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D009390:Nepal; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011320:Primary Health Care; D018570:Risk Assessment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires