Compliance with Standard Precautions Among Phlebotomists in Public Hospitals in Ogun State, South West Nigeria

This study assesses compliance with standard precautions among phlebotomists in public hospitals in Ogun State, South West Nigeria, and identifies determinants of non-compliance. Phlebotomists are at the frontline of occupational bloodborne pathogen exposure, and consistent standard precaution compliance is essential for personal and patient protection. A cross-sectional observational and survey study was conducted across 20 public hospitals in Ogun State, directly observing 300 phlebotomy procedures performed by 80 phlebotomists across the facilities. A structured observation checklist evaluated hand hygiene, glove use, sharps disposal, patient identification, and needle recapping practices. A self-administered questionnaire assessed knowledge, training history, and perceived barriers. Direct observation revealed satisfactory glove use (94%), but significant deficiencies in hand hygiene before (42% compliance) and after (38%) procedures, unsafe needle recapping in 27 percent of observed procedures, and incorrect sharps disposal in 31 percent of observations. Self-reported compliance in questionnaire responses was substantially higher than observed compliance across all parameters, indicating a social desirability bias. Knowledge of standard precautions was adequate in 71 percent of phlebotomists. Inadequate supply of hand hygiene facilities was the most cited structural barrier. The study recommends installation of hand hygiene dispensers at all phlebotomy sites, safety-engineered needle devices, covert observation-based competency assessment, and structured refresher training to close the knowledge-practice gap among phlebotomists in Ogun State. Keywords: standard precautions, phlebotomists, occupational safety, hand hygiene, Ogun State.