Research Information System
Journal Caring Sciences, vol.10, no.3, pp.1296-1304, 2017 (Peer-Reviewed Journal)
Objective: This study was performed in order to determine the attitudes, behavior, and beliefs of midwifery students regarding the spreading, treatment/care, and control methods for blood borne agents that cause systemic infections. Method: The data for this descriptive and cross sectional study were collected by using the "Data gathering form" that was prepared through using information from the literature. The study was performed between May 1st 2013- June 1st 2013 with the participation of 166 students from the Midwifery Department of the Istanbul University School of Health Sciences. Findings: 24.7% stated that they were wounded with contaminated needles during clinical applications. To protect themselves during invasive interventions, 75.3% of the students stated that they would "wear gloves". While 42.2% of the students think HIV/AIDS spreads through flies, mosquitoes, and ants, 50.0% think it may spread through swimming in the same pool with an infected person. The rate of thinking that Hepatitis C may spread through dried blood increased with decreasing total years of study, and there was a meaningful difference between classes (p≤ .05). When the current year the students studied and reasons for not getting a tattoo were compared, a statistically meaningful difference was found in avoiding tattoos for medical reasons (p≤ .05). Conclusions: Midwifery students, who have a high likelihood of contacting blood borne agents that cause systemic infections, need information on protection, precaution, and the ways these agents spread. Most of the midwifery students need information on necessary post exposure applications as well as standard precautions.