## Results
### Knowledge of HIV PEP Protocol and Guideline  
Table 2 shows the respondent's level of knowledge of the HIV PEP protocol and guidelines. Based on the measurement of different variables, and as per scores on the scoring system, the respondents in this study had a poor knowledge of HIV PEP, despite a good proportion of 85 (90.43%; \(p\)-value \(<\) 0.0001) of respondents who had heard about HIV PEP before. Out of 94 respondents, the majority (71, 75.0%) were informed by their clinical area, whereas 14 (15.0%) were informed by the media (z-score = 7.0; \(p\)-value = \(<\)0.0001). Two (2.0%) were informed by friends and family, whilst 7 (8.0%) were informed by unspecified others. Among the 85 (90.43%) who indicated that they were informed, a significant majority (72, 79.79%) knew the basic concept of HIV PEP, 3 (3.19%) gave the incorrect meaning of HIV PEP (z-score = 10.6; \(p\)-value = \(<\) 0,0001), while 10 (17.02%) respondents left the question unanswered. \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c} \hline \hline
**Variables** & **All N (\%)** \\ \hline
**Nursing category** & \\ \hline Registered nurse & 66 (70) \\ Enrolled nurse & 24 (26) \\ Enrolled assistant nurse & 4 (4) \\ \hline
**Educational level** & \\ \hline Certificate & 27 (29) \\ Diploma & 52 (55) \\ Undergraduate degree & 12 (13) \\ Postgraduate degree & 3 (3) \\ \hline
**Years of experience** & \\ \hline
03 months–05 years & 29 (30.85) \\
06–15 years & 36 (38.30) \\
16–25 years & 23 (24.47) \\
26–32 years & 5 (5.32) \\ Not indicated & 1 (1.06) \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table} 
Table 1: _Cont._ \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c} \hline \hline
**Variable** & **Response Rate N (\%)** &
\begin{tabular}{c} **z-Score;** \\ \(p\)**-Value** \\ \end{tabular} \\ \hline
**Ever heard information about HIV PEP** & & 11.016; \\  & & 0.00001 \\ \hline Yes & 85 (90.43\%) & \\ No & 9 (9.57\%) & \\ \hline
**Source of information about HIV PEP** & & \\ \hline Media & 14 (15\%) & \\ Clinical area & 71 (75\%) & 7.0015; \\ Friends and family members & 2 (2\%) & 0.00001 \\ Other (specify) & 7 (8\%) & \\ \hline
**Meaning of HIV PEP** & & \\ \hline Correct & 72 (79.79\%) & 10.6581; \\ Wrong & 3 (3.19\%) & 0.00001 \\ Unanswered & 10(17.02\%) & \\ \hline
**Knowledge of reporting to the supervisor immediately after** & & \\ \hline
**occupational exposure** & & \\ \hline Yes & 83 (88.30\%) & 8.95930; \\ No & 11 (11.07\%) & 0.00001 \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table} 
Table 2: Respondents’ knowledge of HIV PEP. Out of 94 respondents, the majority of the respondents (83, 88.30%) had knowledge of reporting to the supervisor immediately after occupational exposure, compared to 11 (11.07%) that did not know to do this (z-score = 8.9; \(p\)-value \(<\) 0.0001). Despite many respondents knowing that they should report first to the supervisor, there were 80 (84%) respondents who did not know a place where PEP services were offered in the facility (z-score = \(-\) 9.6; \(p\)-value \(<\) 0.0001), and more than half (52, 55.32%) were unaware of the availability of HIV PEP guidelines in their hospital, although this did not significantly differ from the 42 (44.68%) who knew about the availability of HIV PEP guidelines in the hospital (z-score = 1.45; \(p\)-value = 0.1443 \(>\) 0.05). The maximum time delay to access HIV PEP services after an accidental occupational exposure was 72 h, as indicated by the majority of respondents (52, 55.32%), compared to 26 (27.66%) who indicated that it is within 36 h (z-score = 4.16; \(p\)-value \(<\) 0.0001). Although 55.32% of the nurses knew the best time to initiate PEP regimens for HIV, a significantly lower number of respondents (37, 39.36%) could correctly identify the recommended drugs used as precautionary measures for HIV infection, compared to 34 (36.17%) who indicated the wrong drug(s) used in their hospital for HIV PEP.