Knowledge and Practices of Hand Washing among Health Professionals in Dubti Referral Hospital, Dubti, Afar, Northeast Ethiopia

Table 2

Knowledge of hand washing of study participants in Dubti Referral Hospital, April 2016.

Variables	Response
	Yes		No		I don’t know
	frequency	Relative frequency	frequency	Relative frequency	frequency	Relative frequency
Direct or indirect contacts are the most important routes for transmission of hospital-acquired infections	76	83.5	11	12.0	4	4.4
Proper and consistent hand washing prevents infections in health facilities	77	84.6	12	13.2	2	2.2
There is no need for hand washing for those who perform their activity with caution	46	50.6	42	46.2	3	3.3
There is no need of hand washing if gloves are properly worn	68	74.7	17	18.9	6	6.6
Health professionals should always wash their hands immediately when they arrive at health institutions	52	57.1	36	39.6	3	3.3
Hand hygiene should be practiced routinely even when gloves are worn	48	52.8	33	36.3	10	11.0
Effective hand washing consists of wetting, soaping, applying friction, rinsing and drying adequately	71	78.0	13	14.3	7	7.7
Hands should be washed at least for 10-15 seconds	58	63.7	22	24.2	11	12.1
Using disinfectants during hand washing decreases bacterial load on hands	75	82.4	11	12.1	5	5.6
Health professionals should wash their hands or use antiseptic hand rub before putting on or after removal of gloves	73	80.2	18	19.8
Alcohol has the ability to eradicate micro-organisms compared to water	69	75.8	17	18.7	5	5.6
Hand washing is the single most effective mechanism to prevent spread of infection	59	64.8	21	23.1	11	12.1