HAND WASHING PRACTICE AMONG HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS WORKING IN PEDIATRIC DEPARTMENT

Objective: This study aims to determine the hand washing practice among doctors and staff nurses working in neonatology unit of a teaching hospital. Methodology: The study design is cross sectional, to assess the knowledge and practice about hand washing among pediatricians and nurses attending neonates in a tertiary care hospital in Pakistan. Questionnaire was designed and 146 patients were interviewed by the authors, their attitude towards hand washing technique was assessed by face to face interviews and response was recorded on proforma after taking informed written consent and without showing participants identity. No ethical issue certificate was obtained from Hospital ethical committee. Doctors and nurses working in different government teaching hospitals were enrolled in study. Result: Knowledge about hand washing was 94% among doctors and nurses. Practice of hand washing technique was 59.6% among Postgraduate resident doctors and in nurses it was 36%. In consultants it was 40.4%. Thus low frequency of hand washing practice can lead to healthcare provider induced infections. Conclusion: Despite of knowledge about hand washing benefits and technique among doctors and nurses practice rate was very low. Thus it's a leading cause of hospital acquired infections in neonates. KEY WORDS: Hand washing, infections, doctors, nurses, neonates, knowledge attitude and practice (KAP).