2013 Volume 28 Issue 6 Pages 355-360
This study aimed to evaluate blood or body fluid exposure and self-reported compliance with personal protective equipment (PPE) use among midwives. The anonymous questionnaires were mailed to 314 birth centers in Japan, and were returned from 139 birth centers (return rate 42.1%). The total experiences of exposure among midwives were 125 (90.0%). Exposure to the face was the most common (77.6%), followed by the upper extremity (75.2%) and hands (67.2%). The number of midwives who had experience of birth assistance with the bare hands in the last year was 25 (18.0%). Moreover, five of those midwives (5/25) answered that this was routine practice. On the other hand, wearing a gown and gloves during birth assistance was most common (57.6%), followed by only gloves (30.2%). During birth assistance, only one of the midwives wore a mask, goggle, gloves, and gown (all required PPE), whereas 52 midwives (40.3%) answered that they cannot understand the need for PPE.
The reason for not wearing appropriate PPE was that the mother did not have any infectious disease (78.4%). This study indicated that present wearing of PPE by midwives during the birth is not adequate. Despite exposure of the face being the most common incident, few midwives wore a mask and goggles. The requirements for appropriate infection control practice and educational approaches for midwives, based on the characteristics of the birth center, should be promoted.
