title: Knowledge, attitude and practices of HIV post exposure prophylaxis amongst health workers in Lagos University Teaching Hospital.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Timely PEP after needle stick exposure to high risk body fluids can reduce the rate of occupational transmission significantly. Ignorance of this may increase the risk of seroconversion to HIV for healthcare workers. This study was conducted with the aim of demonstrating the current level of knowledge and practise of healthcare workers as regards PEP.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a cross-sectional study, pretested questionnaire were self administered to 372 health workers from various clinical specialties. The responses were collated and analyzed; results were presented in frequency tables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This study revealed a high level of awareness among the respondents as 83.3% were aware of PEP. Despite the high level of awareness, respondents still have an inadequate knowledge about PEP, only 32% of the respondents could name at least two of the recommended drugs for PEP, only 54.0% of respondents knew when to commence PEP following occupational exposure to HIV. There was a low level of practice of PEP among the respondents as only 6.3% of respondents had PEP despite occurrence of needle stick injury.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study revealed a general low level use of PEP despite the average knowledge of PEP and the favourable attitude towards HIV PEP amongst the respondents.
authors: Department of Haematology Ben Carson School of Medicine, Babcock University Teaching Hospital, Ilisan-Remo, Ogun State, Nigeria.
authors: Sarah
authors: S
authors: Ajibola
authors: Department of Haematology, Lagos State University College of Medicine, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria.
authors: Akinsegun
authors: A
authors: Akinbami
authors: Department of Medical Microbiology Ben Carson School of Medicine, Babcock University Teaching Hospital, Ilisan-Remo, Ogun State, Nigerian.
authors: Charles
authors: C
authors: Elikwu
authors: Oak Hospitals Ikorodu, Lagos, Nigeria.
authors: Majeed
authors: M
authors: Odesanya
authors: Department of Haematology, Lagos State University College of Medicine, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria.
authors: Ebele
authors: E
authors: Uche
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D017758:Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016602:Needlestick Injuries; D009549:Nigeria; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000517:prevention & control; D056990:Post-Exposure Prophylaxis; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Health care workers; Post exposure prophylaxis; human immunodeficiency virus