Knowledge of clinical nurse practitioners regarding notification of notifiable infectious diseases in greater Tzaneen municipality at Mopani district, Limpopo province

4^th International Conference on Nursing & Healthcare

October 05-07, 2015 San Francisco, USA

Mygirl Pearl Lowane

University of Venda, South Africa

Posters-Accepted Abstracts: J Nurs Care

Abstract :

Under-reporting of notifiable infectious diseases remains a major problem amongst health care professionals globally. Several studies found that lack of knowledge of health care professionals are contributing factors to under-reporting of notifiable infectious diseases. South Africa has a routine notification system of reporting notifiable medical/infectious conditions which is stipulated in the Government Act no. 61 of 2003 and regulations regarding the reporting of specific diseases to the local, provincial and national health departments. However, under-reporting of notifiable diseases remains high in the country. This study aimed at assessing the knowledge of clinical nurse practitioners regarding notification of infectious diseases. A quantitative, cross sectional, descriptive was used to assess the knowledge of clinical nurse practitioners regarding infectious diseases notification at greater Tzaneen municipality, Mopani district: Limpopo province. Self-administrated questionnaires was used to collect data from the respondents in all Clinics and Health Centers, where a total of 145 clinical nurse practitioners agreed to participate in the study representing a response rate of 70%. The mean age of the CNPs was 43.23�±9.16 and in males it was 41.04�±6.59 and in females 43.65�±9.53. The study revealed that clinical nurse practitioners lack knowledge regarding notification of notifiable medical conditions. The study, therefore, recommend that the employer provide clinical nurse practitioner with training and health care employers should actively promote the importance of notifiable infectious diseases reporting to their clinicians.

Biography :

Mygirl Pearl Lowane has completed her MPH from University of Venda. She has completed her Bachelor of Art in Nursing Science and Advance University Diploma in Health Studies from University of South Africa (UNISA), the Diploma in Clinical Nursing Science, Health Assessment, Treatment and Care from North-West University School of Health Sciences and Diploma in Nursing Science (General, Psychiatric, Community and Midwifery) from Limpopo College of Nursing. She is a Clinical Nurse Practitioner (PHC), a HIV/AIDS and sexual transmitted conditions Coordinator, a Trainer and Facilitator of all HIV/STI related programs at the Department of Health, Limpopo province, South Africa.

Email: mglowane@webmail.co.za