Factors Affecting the Use of Personal Protective Equipment’s (PPE) Among Sterile Team Members During Surgical Procedures at St, Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College and AaBET Hospital Operating Theatre, Addis Ababa / Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Personal protective equipment’s (PPE) in the health care are designed to protect health care workers from serious workplace injuries or illnesses. PPE provides a physical barrier between microorganism and wearer. It offers protection by preventing microorganism from contaminating hands, eyes, clothing, hair and shoes and also being transmitted to other patients and staff.  Worldwide, three million health care workers (HCWs) experience per-cutaneous exposure to blood-borne viruses such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV per year. The use of PPE is essential in infection control and protects HCWs from acquiring dangerous infection and diseases of epidemic proportion.Objective: The objective of this study was to assess factors affecting the use of personal protective equipment’s (PPE) among sterile team members during surgical procedures at St. Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College, and AaBET, Hospital Operating theatre in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2019.

Result: In all study area (SPHMMC, AaBET,) there are sufficient supply of PPE, but there are some factors that affect use of PPE. According to our respondents 52(36.36%) were influence by hospital policy, 84 (58.74%), were influenced by senior example, because seniors who are not using PPE properly, and 75 (52.44%) were influenced by no time available to wear PPE during emergency cases.  Recommendations: Each operation theater should have a specific complete written policy or standard operating procedures on proper attire that is known to all persons, continued education on use of PPEs and attachment of punishment to non-compliance. Also staffs need to update their experiences, and seniors should have responsibility for their act. In general, all health-care professionals and institutions have obligations to provide safe and quality health care and to avoid unintentional harm to patients.

Keywords:Personal protective equipment (PPE), St. Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College, Operation room (OR),Addis Ababa burn emergency and trauma hospital(AaBET), Health care workers (HCWs), Universal precautions (Ups)

DOI: 10.7176/JHMN/88-03

Publication date: April 30^th 2021