       Document 0398
 DOCN  M9630398
 TI    [The knowledge, attitudes and practice in regard to the risk for
       occupational HIV infection in a group of gynecologists from 3 Italian
       regions]
 DT    9603
 AU    Ippolito G; Sagliocca L; D'Ubaldo C; Ruggiero A; Fabozzi OC; De Masi S;
       Petrosillo N; Centro di Riferimento AIDS, Ospedale Lazzaro, Spallanzani,
       Roma.
 SO    Epidemiol Prev. 1995 Sep;19:276-81. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE
       MED/96079606
 AB    The risk of occupational infection by blood-borne pathogens has been
       well evaluated. However, a low perception of this risk among health care
       workers (HCWs) and a low compliance to infection control measures has
       been documented by several studies. During a meeting of gynecologists of
       Southern Italy, a survey of knowledge, attitudes and practices (K.A.P.)
       on HIV and other blood-borne viral infections was conducted among 143
       obstetricians-gynecologists. 133 (93%) HCWs answered the questionnaire.
       81% of them recalled almost one occupational exposure during their
       career and 54% almost two in the past year. Our data suggest a low
       knowledge about HIV and the other blood-borne viral infections and
       Universal Precautions (UP): only 16% of HCWs knew the rate of vertical
       transmission of HIV, less than 15% knew the rate of seroconversion after
       occupational exposure to HBV and HCV, and finally only 33% knew to which
       body fluids apply UP. Moreover, 93.7% of HCWs believed that HIV antibody
       screening of all patients is an effective strategy to reduce the risk of
       occupation HIV infection. More than 90% of gynecologists used to request
       HIV-antibodies to pregnant women, 21% after the first trimester.
       Although HCWs interviewed can not be considered representative of
       Italian gynecologists, our data suggest the need of an intensive
       training to increase gynecologists' knowledge about HIV, other
       blood-borne pathogens and the risk of occupational infections also in
       order to modify attitudes and practices.
 DE    Adult  *Blood-Borne Pathogens  Chi-Square Distribution  English Abstract
       Female  Gynecology/*MANPOWER/STATISTICS & NUMER DATA  Human  HIV
       Infections/*PREVENTION & CONTROL/TRANSMISSION  *HIV-1  Italy
       *Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice  Male  Middle Age  Occupational
       Diseases/ETIOLOGY/*PREVENTION & CONTROL  Pregnancy  Questionnaires  Risk
       Factors  Universal Precautions  JOURNAL ARTICLE

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
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