KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND COMPLIANCE TO BIOSAFETY GUIDELINES AMONG MEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENTISTS IN IBADAN METROPOLIS, OYO STATE

Abstract

Several laboratory-associated infections have occurred in different parts of the world involving both known and previously unknown agents. Many of these cases in Africa, including Nigeria have been linked to improper containment and poor disposal for infection control. Several laboratory scientists have high knowledge of biosafety but low attitudinal compliance to biosafety. Hence the research was designed to assess the knowledge and attitudinal compliance of biosafety of laboratory scientists in Ibadan, Oyo State. This study was a descriptive survey that used purposive sampling to select 250 medical laboratory scientists from all available public and private registered medical laboratories in Ibadan metropolis. A pretested semi-structured self-administered questionnaire which contained 21-point knowledge scale, 13–point attitudinal scale and 42-point compliance scale, questions relating to issues affecting compliance to laboratory biosafety guidelines among medical laboratory scientists was used for data collection. Knowledge scores 0-7, >7 ≤ and >14 were classified as poor, fair, and good, respectively. Similarly, Attitude scores 0 – 6 and >6 were categorized as negative and positive attitude, respectively and compliance scores 0 – 20 and ˃ 20 > 42 were categorized as low and high compliance, respectively. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square test and Fishers exact test at p=0.05. Result obtained showed that respondents’ age was 40.0 ± 8.1 years, majority (71.0%) were married and Yorubas (97.8%). About half of the respondents (50.2%) were males and majority (52.4%) spent 8 hours at work. Knowledge score was 16.1± 4.7; respondents with poor, fair and good knowledge of laboratory biosafety guidelines were 10.0%, 9.6%and 80.4% respectively. A high proportion (79.0%) had positive attitude while 21.0% had negative attitude towards laboratory biosafety guidelines. Almost all the respondents (91.2%) had low level of compliance. Chi-square test showed that the attitude of the respondents is significantly associated with their knowledge of biosafety guideline and that the gender of the respondents is significantly associated with their level of

compliance. Fisher’s Exact test also showed significant association between knowledge and compliance to biosafety guidelines. Chi-square test showed no statistically significant association between age and compliance to biosafety guidelines. Inadequate supply of gloves, lack of hand washing station, inadequate supply of water, lack of occurrence register were some of the issues relating to the compliance of laboratory biosafety guidelines by the scientists. The respondents’ knowledge and attitude to laboratory biosafety guidelines were good. However, the compliance was poor due to some factors. Updated trainings to sustain the knowledge and attitude and to raise the compliance level should be designed for the scientists.