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Knowledge, attitudes and practices of general practitioners in Karachi District Central about tetanus immunization in
S I Ahmed1, L Baig, I H Thaver
1Faculty of Health Management, Baqai Medical University, Karachi.
Objective:
To assess the knowledge, attitude and practices of general practitioners regarding tetanus immunization in adults.
Setting:
The study was conducted in District Central, Karachi.
Study Design:
This was a Knowledge, Attitude and practices (KAP) survey.
Methods:
From a list of 1050 general practitioners (GPs), 100 were selected through simple random sampling and interviewed through a written questionnaire.
Results:
Only 25% general practitioners had adequate knowledge about pre-exposure and 13% both pre- and post-exposure tetanus immunization. All were ready to participate in any program to update their knowledge. Ninety seven percent were practicing only post-exposure immunization. In unimmunized patients with history of road side/street injury, 55% started tetanus immunization with tetanus toxoid (TT) only, 43% with Anti Tetanus Serum/Tetanus Immunoglobin (ATS/TIG) and only 2% with both TT and ATS/TIG. Only 13% GPs advised their patients to complete three doses of tetanus toxoid after initial contact.
Conclusion:
As majority of GPs had poor knowledge and incorrect practices so interventions like seminars and display of immunization protocols in the clinics are recommended.