Assessment of knowledge and factors affecting student nurses’ compliance regarding standard precautions for preventing tuberculosis and HIV in eSwatini University

Abstract

Introduction and background: Tuberculosis (TB) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) are among the top ten causes of death globally. To prevent the spread of these infections in a hospital setting, health care workers and students should apply a set of principles called “standard precautions”. However, student nurses were found not complying to the standard precautions for prevention of Tuberculosis and Human Immunodeficiency Virus when allocated for clinical practice in the Eswatini healthcare setting. Many studies from different countries have shown non-use of protective clothing and students' failure to adhere to standard precautions. The knowledge of student nurses on standard precautions and the factors affecting their compliance regarding standard precautions had not been determined in-depth in the past.

Aim of the study: The aim of this study was to assess knowledge and factors affecting student nurses’ compliance to standard precautions with the intention of recommending measures that can be taken to facilitate this compliance among student nurses.

Methodology: A non-experimental quantitative approach was used to conduct a survey on senior student nurses of Eswatini University using questionnaires. The total population of third, fourth- and fifth-year students was selected through census sampling method. A Statistical Package for Social Science version 26 software was used to analyze the data.

Findings: Among the student nurses asked, 91% were found to have adequate knowledge on standard precautions but they did not comply on washing hands and wearing gloves, safety glasses and aprons. Factors which influence compliance among student nurses were found to be: adequate knowledge, students’ willingness to take measure, hospital support through training and infection control policies, supportive nurses, availability of the post- exposure prophylaxis, the university’s continuous support, lack of resources and poor role- modelling. Recommendations: The researcher recommends that TB and HIV prevention skills be demonstrated to student nurses in the skills laboratory and that clinical facilitators should accompany students in the clinical area. In the hospitals, ordering and monitoring of supplies should be done well to eliminate shortage of resources and preceptors should be exempted from other duties so that they can be able to supervise student nurses.