Hand decontamination practices in paediatric wards

The purpose of this study was to determine and describe hand decontamination practices of health care professionals in the paediatric wards of an academic hospital in Johannesburg. The purpose was addressed within a survey design and through the use of descriptive and comparative methods. Data were collected through direct observation conducted with the use of a researcher-administered checklist. A sample of sixty-six health professionals was obtained through convenience sampling. Results indicated that significantly fewer health professionals did not decontaminate their hands on entering the ward (16.6%), prior to making patient contact (34.8%) and prior to donning gloves (9.1%). Significantly more health professionals did decontaminate their hands following contact with the patient (63.6%) and following removal of gloves (77.8%). More health professional did not wash their hands after leaving the ward (51.5%). More than half (57.6%) of the health professionals who decontaminate their hands used the correct hand washing technique. Compliance with standard hand decontamination practices of health professionals was found to be poor with only 83.4% of health professionals decontaminating their hands at the start of work.