Browsing by Author "Tsita, Sebueng"
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Results Per Page
Sort Options
- ItemThe perceptions of primary healthcare clinic nurses on implementation of standard precautions, in Leribe District Lesotho(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2021-03) Tsita, Sebueng; Schutte, Loraine; Bell, Janet; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. Dept. of Nursing & Midwifery.ENGLISH SUMMARY : Background: Healthcare professionals are faced with the occupational risk of exposure to microorganisms in their daily routine work, leading to the acquision of healthcare associated infections. Suboptimal compliance to standard safety precautions, as the major infection prevention measures, was identified globally to be the major cause of healthcare associated infections affecting healthcare workers and, consequently, the patients. This study aimed to explore the perceptions of the nurses, the clinical healthcare providers at the clinics in Lesotho, on the implementation of standard precautions as protective measures against infections, in order to ensure safety in primary healthcare clinics. Methods: To explore the perceptions of primary healthcare nurses on the implementation of standard precautions in their workplace, individual interviews were conducted with participants from four purposefully selected clinics. Three participants from each of the three different nursing cadres were selected, adding up to a total of twelve participants. To establish these perceptions, understanding of standard precautions, individual practices as well as potential barriers to implementation of standard precautions were explored. Creswell’s method of data analysis was followed to reach the study objectives of this qualitative descriptive study. Results: Findings of this study reflect the participants’ adequate understanding of standard precautions among the participants, although standard precautions are not adequately enforced through training and supervision. Moreover, standard precautions are not adhered to as recommended and the barriers hindering adequate implementation of standard precautions, such as infrastructure limitations, procurement issues, cultural issues, work situations and discomfort were identified. Conclusion: There is a need to enforce the standard precautions through training and supportive supervision, whilst the guideline and operating procedure development can be followed to improve the consistent implementation of standard precautions. Procurement of adequate supply of equipment is also necessary in improving compliance to standard precautions.