Background

Several studies have found that compliance with universal precautions (UP) reduces the risk of exposure to diseases transmitted through blood and body fluids. Several efforts were made during the 2014 Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak in Nigeria to ensure a better behavioral change toward the practice of UP.

Objectives

This study assessed knowledge, attitude, and practice of the use of universal safety precautions among health care workers in a tertiary hospital in Osun State in southwestern Nigeria, 1 year after the containment of the EVD epidemic in Nigeria.

Methods

Descriptive cross-sectional study among 274 health care workers of LAUTECH Teaching Hospital Osogbo, selected using systematic sampling method. Data collected using semistructured, pretested questionnaires were analyzed using SPSS software version 17.0 (Chicago, IL, SPSS Inc.).

Findings

Two hundred twenty (80.3%) washed their hands regularly after procedures, 256 (93.4%) used gloves regularly when caring for all patients, 100 (36.5%) said they occasionally recap needles carefully, and 250 (91.2%) said they properly handled and disposed sharp instruments and wastes. About 224 (81.8%) had good mean knowledge score, 154 (56.2%) had a positive attitude score, and 192 (70.1%) had a good mean practice score for UP among respondents. The practice of UP was statistically significantly associated with gender, years of work experience (P = .002), and knowledge of (P = .039) and attitude about UP (P = .007).

Conclusions

The good knowledge and practice scores of UP were associated with better attitude toward handwashing and the use of gloves during the post-EVD period compared with the pre-EVD period. A significant proportion still recap used needles just like during the pre-EVD period.