title: Knowledge, attitudes and perceptions of occupational hazards and safety practices in Nigerian healthcare workers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  By profession, healthcare workers (HCWs) attend to clients and patients through a variety of preventive and curative services. However, while their attention is focused on providing care, they are vulnerable to hazards that could be detrimental to their health and well-being. This is especially true in developing countries where health service delivery is fraught with minimal protective precautions against exposures to numerous fomites and infectious agents. This study assessed the workplace hazards and safety practices by selected HCWs in a typical health care facility (HCF) in Nigeria.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study utilized a descriptive cross-sectional design and stratified sampling technique to identify 290 respondents. The study used mixed methodology and collected data by validated instruments with resulting data analyzed by IBM-SPSS, version 20.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed that over half of the respondents were registered nurses, female, married (61.7 %) with 5 years median work experience (70.3 %). Most respondents (89 %) were knowledgeable about hazards in HCFs, identified recapping used needles as a risky practice (70 %) and recognized that effective hand washing prior to, and after every clinical procedure in preventing cross infection (100 %). Also, most respondents (96.2 %) believed they were at risk of occupational hazards while about two-thirds perceived the risk as high. In addition, only 64.2 and 87.2 % had completed Hepatitis B and Tetanus immunizations, respectively. Only 52.1 % "always" complied with standard procedures and most (93.8 %) practice safe disposal of sharps (93.8 %) while those that did not (40 %) generally implicated lack of basic safety equipment. In this study, the practice of hand washing by respondents was not influenced by occupation and education.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The high level of knowledge demonstrated by respondents was at variance with practice, therefore, measures aimed at promoting safety practices and, minimizing exposure to hazards such as; provision of safety equipment, pre-placement and routine training of staff on safety practices and adequate reinforcement of staff capacity and capability through drills in all HCFs should be institutionalized and made mandatory. The protocol of the safety training and drills should be responsive to evidence-based emerging and sectoral safety challenges.
authors: Department of Community Health, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ife, Nigeria. ooaluko@gmail.com.
authors: Olufemi Oludare
authors: OO
authors: Aluko
authors: Department of Community Health, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ife, Nigeria. ayobamiadebayo1@gmail.com.
authors: Ayobami Emmanuel
authors: AE
authors: Adebayo
authors: Department of Community Health, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ife, Nigeria. talk2toteeteealways@yahoo.com.
authors: Titilayo Florence
authors: TF
authors: Adebisi
authors: Department of Community Health, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ife, Nigeria. ewegbemimatthew@gmail.com.
authors: Mathew Kolawole
authors: MK
authors: Ewegbemi
authors: Department of Community Health, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ife, Nigeria. atabidoye233@yahoo.com.
authors: Abiodun Tolani
authors: AT
authors: Abidoye
authors: Department of Community Health, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ife, Nigeria. drconfianza@gmail.com.
authors: Bukola Faith
authors: BF
authors: Popoola
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006268:Health Facilities; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012449:Safety; D055815:Young Adult