ATTITUDE AND FACTORS INFLUENCING THE PRACTICE OF STANDARD PRECAUTIONS AMONG NURSES IN FAITH MEDIPLEX HOSPITAL, BENIN CITY, EDO STATE

Abstract

Standard precautions are fundamental infection control practices designed to protect healthcare workers and patients from pathogen transmission. Nurses, as frontline providers, are pivotal to their implementation. However, adherence remains suboptimal in many low-resource settings, posing significant risks of healthcare-associated infections. This study assessed the attitude and identified the factors influencing the practice of standard precautions among nurses at Faith Mediplex Hospital, Benin City, Edo State. A descriptive cross-sectional research design was employed, utilizing a census sampling technique to include all 80 nurses in the hospital. Data were collected using a structured, self-administered questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics (One-Way ANOVA) with SPSS version 29, at a 0.05 level of significance. The overall mean attitude score was 2.84, indicating a generally positive attitude. Nurses strongly affirmed the importance of hand hygiene (µ=3.60), professional duty (µ=3.55), and ongoing training (µ=3.75). However, significant negative attitudes were identified, with 75% justifying the dangerous practice of recapping used needles and 80% agreeing it was acceptable to skip precautions in emergencies. The factors most strongly influencing practice were a stressful work environment (µ=3.65), frequent unavailability of PPE (µ=3.60), and chronic understaffing (µ=3.55). A lack of regular training (µ=3.50) and poor policy enforcement (µ=3.45) were also major barriers. Statistical analysis revealed no significant relationship between nurses' age (p=0.739) or years of experience (p=0.766) and their attitude scores. While nurses at Faith Mediplex Hospital possess a positive overall attitude towards standard precautions, this is undermined by deeply entrenched high-risk beliefs and severe systemic barriers. It is recommended that hospital administration prioritize ensuring a consistent supply of PPE, address chronic understaffing, and institute mandatory, hands-on training. Nursing leadership must champion a non-negotiable safety culture to bridge the dangerous gap between attitude and practice. Keywords: Standard Precautions, Infection Control, Nurses' Attitude, Healthcare-Associated Infections, Personal Protective Equipment, Nigeria.