Knowledge of HIV post exposure prophylaxis among public healthcare providers in Ilala District, Dar es Salaam

Abstract

Background Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) using highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) significantly reduces the risk of HIV infection to the victims. Evidence based practice has brought dynamicity in HAART regimens necessitating continual updates on knowledge of health care providers (HCPs) regarding PEP. Therefore, this study aimed to assess contemporary knowledge of HCPs on PEP three years after the introduction of Tenofovir based HAART regimens as a default for PEP in Tanzania.Methods A health care facilities based cross-sectional study was conducted between April and June 2018 in Ilala municipal Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. A consecutive sampling method was deployed and 233 HCPs were enrolled. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire with closed-ended questions. The level of knowledge was graded using Bloom’s cut off point. Chi-square and multinomial logistic regression tests were used to check for association at significance level of p<0.05.Results A total of 13 health facilities were visited and 233 HCPs were interviewed among them 30.9%, 5.6%, 58.4%, and 5.2% were medical doctors, pharmaceutical personnel, nurses and laboratory technician respectively. The majority 72.1% (168) of the participants were female and the majority 47.2% (110) of the HCPs were aged ≥55 years. Diploma (43.8% (102)) education level constituted the largest proportion of the participants and the majority 50.2% (117) were nurses. About 70% of the respondents had low to moderate knowledge. The majority 87.6%(204) of the study participants were knowledgeable on dosage duration for PEP. However, only 41.2% (96) knew the recommended ARV regimen for PEP in Tanzania and 48.9% (114) knew how soon PEP should be initiated to prevent HIV acquisition. Certificate holders were more likely to have low knowledge on PEP compared to diploma and degree holders aOR (95% CI) 14(3.9 – 50.8), p=<0.01. The main source of PEP information to study participants was HIV treatment guideline (29%) followed by seminars (22%).Conclusion The majority of the assessed HCPs had low to moderate knowledge on PEP. The level of knowledge on PEP among HCPs increased with the level of education whereby those with a degree are more knowledgeable.

Knowledge on HIV postexposure prophylaxis and associated factors among healthcare workers in the Kigoma Region, Tanzania

“…In this study, the availability of HIV PEP guidelines had no association with the level of knowledge among HCWs, which is similar to a study performed in Nigeria that revealed unacceptable disconnects between doctors and the existence of durable PEP guideline policies in hospitals [18]. Contrary to a study conducted in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, where the majority of respondents acquired knowledge on HIV PEP from HIV treatment guidelines [12]., other studies prevail in the strong association between guidelines and knowledge on HIV PEP [17]. This could be because in the current study, there was reluctance to emphasize the dissemination use of upadated HIV PEP guidelines compared to previous studies when PEP guidelines were implemented.…”

“…Kasulu district hospital was associated with adequate knowledge compared to Kibondo district hospital and Kigoma regional hospital either due to available PEP service and guidelines that have an in uence on the association of knowledge as well as the presence of strong management and leadership practices that strengthen the health system together with other health partners who collaborate to in uence principles for improving quality management in healthcare. The association between facilities in which HCWs work with adequate knowledge is contrary to a study performed in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, which reported on sociodemographic factors such as level of education in association with inadequate knowledge of which certi cate level of education appeared to have low knowledge of HIV PEP [12]. Another study reported in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania that a low level of PEP knowledge was especially among lower carder means medical attendants [4].…”