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In HBC, infections are a major cause of illness among patients and family members because
most of the times these people share eating utensils and living accommodation. Therefore this
can cause numerous admissions to hospitals. The use of guidance on infection prevention can
minimize the spread of infections (South African Department of Health [SADOH] 2006).
Infection control practices in home-based care settings involve taking standard precautions
such as practicing hand hygiene: washing of hands after handling any blood, body fluids,
secretions, excretions, known and unknown contaminated equipments or surfaces to
minimize micro-organisms and using personal protective equipment (PPE). PPE are methods
that use a physical barrier between micro-organisms and the caregiver to prevent micro-
organisms from contaminating other patients, or any caregivers, these include gloves, masks,
apron, gown, boots and head covers where necessary and also the maintenance of a clean and
safe environment (WHO, 2003).
Proper infection control practices improve health outcomes and prevent negative outcomes
such as morbidity, mortality rates and increased health care costs. For example in South
Africa, the national policy on infection prevention and control aims at setting minimum
national standards for the effective prevention and management of health care associated
infections. These standards were developed so that hazards associated with biological agents
are minimized for patients, visitors and caregivers (SADoH, 2006). To achieve this, national,
provincial and district infection prevention and control committees were established under
the national health Act 2003 to oversee infection control practices at each level. This involves
a comprehensive program that encompasses all aspects of infection prevention and control.
The comprehensive program include education & training, surveillance, environmental
management, waste management and outbreak investigation. It also involve the development
and updating of infection prevention and control policies, guidelines and protocols, cleaning,
disinfection and sterilization. The employee health, quality management in infection control
and provision of HBC kits with materials are included (Health Department, 2007:6). HBC
kits will be discussed in the next section.
2.6 Material resources in home-based care
Home-based care kits contain materials used for infection control practices and medication
for the patients. In South Africa, HBC kits are in the form of bags or carton boxes that
contain some medication such as gentian violet, multivitamin syrup, pain killers, skin and
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