Evaluation of the effect of an educational intervention on knowledge and adherence to HIV guidelines among frontline health workers in Alex-Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital Abakaliki, Nigeria.

Background: The aim of this study was to appraise the implementation of the National HIV guidelines and determine the effect of an educational intervention on health worker knowledge and practice of the guidelines.

Methods: A before and after study design without control was carried out using a self-administered questionnaire and key informant interviews. Data was also collected from client record cards. An educational intervention was carried out using pamphlets containing summarized information on the guideline. Data analysis was carried out using IBM-SPSS version 20.

Result: Results showed that 54.5% of the respondents were males and 76% were medical doctors. Baseline knowledge level of respondents was high with 97% of respondents having good knowledge with a mean score of 3.9. This increased to 4.1 out of 5 post-intervention. All respondents had good practice of the guidelines before and after intervention with a mean score of 4.5 out of 5. Client records also showed good practice. Barriers to guideline implementation include: poor knowledge, inadequate training, guideline unavailability, poor functioning of the laboratory equipment, poor funding.

Conclusion: HIV guidelines are being implemented in the clinic to a large extent; however, trainings, funding and provision of the guideline in the clinics are recommended.