Level and determinants of compliance to the Uganda National Bureau of Standards Infection control precautions among barbers in Makindye Division, Kampala District

Abstract

Introduction: Haircut business is an activity that has a great potential to spread infections among clients and requires strict adherence to infection control precautions. The Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) in 2008 put in place standards, US 713:2008, to guide all workers in the hair dressing industry on safe practices to control spread of infections. However, the level to which the UNBS infection control precautions are adhered to and the determinants of this compliance in barbershops in Uganda is unknown. Objective: The objective of the study was to assess the level and determinants of compliance to infection control precautions among barbers in Makindye division, Kampala district in order to generate information to inform measures to improve compliance to infection control precautions in barbershops. Methods: A cross sectional study design was used among barbershops in Makindye Division of Kampala district. A total of 220 barbershops were selected from the Division with each Parish contributing a maximum of twelve barbershops. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and an observational checklist and analysed using STATA version 14. Modified Poisson regression with robust standard errors was used to identify factors associated with compliance to UNBS infection control precautions. Results: The study found self-reported compliance to infection control precautions by barbers to be 67%. Majority 185/220 (84.1%) of respondents were male and had secondary education 113/220 (51.6%). Individual level determinants of compliance were: female barbers (APR=1.28, CI [1.07-1.52]) and those with secondary level of education (APR=1.75, CI [1.41-2.18]) more likely to comply with the UNBS infection control precautions. On the other hand, among facility factors; inadequacy of safety equipment (APR=0.36, CI [0.22-0.59]), and absence of Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) license (APR=0.75, CI [0.60-0.94]) were associated with low compliance to infection control precautions. Conclusion: Compliance to the UNBS infection control precautions was not satisfactory among barbers in Makindye Division. The local authority should ensure that all barbershops are inspected and licensed when they meet requirements. There is also need for sensitization of barbers about infection control practices and the required equipment by KCCA and UNBS.