Abstract:
This study investigates knowledge and practices of Tuberculosis infection prevention and
control among health workers in Tema General Hospital. Two hundred and twenty nine
(229) randomly selected (stratification) health workers were administered a 54-item
questionnaire.
The
questionnaire
comprised
sections
designed
to
provide relevant
information of concern to the study such as knowledge of Tuberculosis infection
prevention and control, practices and challenges. Results showed that health workers had
fairly good knowledge of Tuberculosis infection prevention and control. This was
significantly influenced by participants’ sex, current ward of work and job title but not age
and number of years of work. Practices used by the health workers were generally good
and appropriate especially regular hand washing hygiene, education of Tuberculosis
patients and use of information, education and communication materials. What was lacking
was wearing of a N95(Non oil close fitted mask with 95% filter efficiency that protects
from inhaling infectious droplet nuclei) and FFP2 (an oil and non oil aerosol mask or
respirator with 94% filter efficiency that protects from inhaling infectious droplet nuclei)
when working in high risk Tuberculosis areas, offering of surgical mask to Tuberculosis
suspects or cases when they are in the hospital and separation of group suspected or
confirmed
Tuberculosis
patients from other patients.
Identified
challenges included
inadequate education/training programmes for health workers about Tuberculosis infection,
prevention and control, improper ventilation due to overcrowding at the out patients
department, lack of protective equipment (FFP2 or N95 masks, gloves), non availability of
Tuberculosis wards for infected patients, stigmatization of staff working on Tuberculosis
patients and poor resourced laboratory for Tuberculosis testing. It was concluded that
health workers need to improve their knowledge on Tuberculosis infection prevention
control whilst stakeholders institute measures geared to wards improvement of facility and
logistic deficit.
