Volume 2, Number 2 (June 2022) e-ISSN: 2798-5067 p-ISSN: 2798-5059 © KHD Production | 118 The Use of Personal Protective Equipment Compliance among Midwives During COVID-19 Pandemic in Indonesia Nurleli 1 , Rini Kundaryanti 2 , Shinta Novelia 3* 1,2,3 Department of Midwifery, Faculty of Health Science, National University, Indonesia; shinta.novelia@civitas.unas.ac.id (Corresponding Author) Article Info: ABSTRACT Submitted: 01-09-2021 Revised: 10-05-2022 Accepted: 24-05-2022 Individuals most at risk of infection are those who are in close contact with COVID 19 patients, such as midwives who run Independent Practices. Midwives can protect themselves when providing care by complying with infection prevention and control practices that include proper administrative, environmental and engineering control and use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) (i.e. appropriate in the selection of the appropriate type of PPE, how it is used, how to release and how to dispose or wash PPE). This study aimed to analyze factors that can affect the behavior of PPE use among midwives. This type of research was observational analytical research methods. The population in this study was 87 midwives. The study was conducted in Sambas Regency in July- August 2021. This research instrument was a questionnaire. The results of the study showed there was relationship between knowledge (p-value 0.395), and education level (p-value 0.103) with compliance, there was a relationship of working life (p-value 0.000) and availability of PPE (p-value 0.001) With Compliance of Using Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in Sambas Regency In 2021. It is expected to be the basis and guideline to conduct further research related to the behavior of using PPE while working on midwives in health care facilities in Indonesia. Keywords: Compliance, Personal Protective Equipment INTRODUCTION Adherence in using PPE in Indonesian health facilities only 40% of health workers only use a few PPE only in direct contact with patients such as gloves. This is because health workers are not used to using PPE, forgetful, busy and about 52% of hospitals do not have the right equipment. Lack of access to PPE in hospitals is most likely due to low hospital budgets, either due to leadership negligence in preparing PPE or due to limited costs of providing PPE or possibly due to a lack of nurse knowledge about the dangers that can occur in hospitals (Panaha, 2021). Based on WHO data, infections in medical personnel are quite high. To date, there have been more than 3000 health workers who have tested positive for the coronavirus. 6 As of May 7, 2020, there were 989 health workers who died from COVID-19 worldwide or by 0.37% (989 out of 270,426) (Aevara, 2020). Individuals most at risk of infection are those who are in close contact with COVID 19 patients, such as midwives who run Independent Practices. In providing health services, midwives are very susceptible to contracting so the PPE used is a standard PPW based on risk assessment (Kemenkes, 2020). Research conducted in the Working Area of Kuok and Kampar Health Center by Dhini Anggraini Dhilon (2021) mentioned that only 5 midwives (33.3%) are knowledgeable but obedient in the use of PPE, while 5 well-informed midwives there are 4 respondents (20%) who are not compliant in the use of PPE. There are several factors that affect health workers in using PPE while on duty. Initial assessment must be important for nurse to asses client in hospital (Putri, et al. 2021). According to Sanjaya's research (2018), it is known that there is a significant relationship between the attitude and behavior of the use of PPE in health care workers in Sleman Regency. Efforts to prevent health workers from being infected with COVID-19 are by complying with infection prevention and control practices (Oktaviani, Kundaryanti, & Novelia, 2022). These efforts include administrative, environmental, engineering control and proper use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). PPE acts as a barrier between infectious materials (e.g. viruses and bacteria) with the skin, mouth, nose, or eyes (mucous membranes) of health workers and patients (Directorate General of Health Services, 2020; Novelia, Lubis, Murniati, & Carolin, 2021; Hariyanto, Purwandari, & Tri Afandi, 2021).