The Traffic Police Officers’ Knowledge on HIV Prevention Measures While Handling Road Traffic Accidents Victims along Jinja- Malaba High Way in Eastern Uganda

Abstract

Background: The HIV/AIDS epidemic continues to pose significant development and public health challenges in Uganda. One of the contributors to HIV prevalence is road traffic accidents. Traffic police officers who respond to save victims need to have adequate knowledge of HIV prevention and also possess proper safety gadgets/equipment. The current study was carried out to assess traffic police officers’ knowledge on HIV prevention measures while handling road traffic accident victims along Jinja-Malaba highway. Methodology: The study design was cross sectional study; questionnaire, data abstraction form and observational checklist tools were used. Data was collected from traffic police officers’ along Jinja –Malaba highway using a questionnaire and observational checklist. Data about accidents for one year period from January 2014 to December 2014 was extracted from the accident record books at police stations using data abstraction form. Data was entered into Microsoft Excel 2010, analyzed using STATA version 12 and is presented as tables, graphs and pie charts. Results: A very high number of road accidents were recorded to have occurred along Jinja-Malaba highway for one year period from January 2014 to December 2014. Of the 45 officers who participated in the study, 60% had adequate knowledge on HIV transmission and 51.1% had adequate knowledge on HIV prevention measures while handling road accident victims. Most police stations visited had gloves but they lacked other safety gadgets/equipment like Waste bins, plastic bags, masks, safety glasses, gowns, plaster, hand washing provision, soap and disinfectants. Conclusion and Recommendations: Although officers had adequate knowledge on HIV transmission and prevention, lack of safety gadgets/equipment can immensely contribute to inadequate application of the safety precautions. Therefore, the government should equip police stations with more safety gadgets.