ABSTRACT
Nurses as one of the front line health workers has being affected by the spread of COVID 19 due to the unavailability and under utilization of Personal Protective Equipment in their various workplace. This study aimed to investigate the availability and utilization of PPE strategies for COVID 19 among nurses and the factors affecting them in their workplace. A cross- sectional survey was conducted among Nurses in Tertiary Health Institution in Benin Metropolis. In total, 306 nurses was used and selected through Convenient sampling technique and questionnaires was administered to them, a reliability score of 0.843 was yielded during the pilot study. A significance of p<0.0001 was established in the relationship of the availability of PPE strategies for COVID 19 among nurses and the utilization of PPE strategies for COVID 19 among nurses in Tertiary health Institution in Benin Metropolis. In this study 209(68.3%) were within the age range of 20-29 years, majority 231(75.5%) were females, most respondents 198(64.7%) have had <5 years of experience, 234(76.5%) were Christians, 143(46.7%) had BNSC as educational qualification.Most respondents 276(90.2%) reported that Personal Protective Equipment is available in their work place, 290(94.8%) reported they know the various types of Personal ProtectiveEquipment. Most respondents reported shortages in the following:194(63.4%)face masks, 219(71.4%)hand gloves, 222(72.5%)protective gowns and aprons, 237(77.5%)face shields or googles, 177(57.8%)shoe covers, 209(68.3%)hair covers. 290(94.8%) reported they know the various types of Personal ProtectiveEquipment, 277(90.5%) reported they don’t utilize the Personal Protective Equipmentmost respondents 286(93.5%) reported that the face-masks, latex gloves, protective gown and face shields are the basic personal protective Equipment, 296(96.7%), 291(95.1%), 211(69.1%), 222(72.2%), 231(75%) and 276(90.2) reported they use the following basic Personal Protective Equipment Face masks or N95 masks , Latex hand gloves, Protective gowns or aprons, Face shields, Protective shoe covers and Protective hair covers respectively. The study corresponded with the study conducted by others and the result shows that the Level of Knowledge on the types of personal protective equipment is good. With majority making use of Face masks or N95 masks. The study reported poor utilization of personal protective equipment by the nurses .
KEYWORDS: Availability, Utilization, Personal Protective Equipment, Nurses, COVID 19
