INFECTIONS PREVENTION AND CONTROL PRACTICES AMONG HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS AT THE SURGICAL DEPARTMENT OF TAMALE TEACHING HOSPITAL

Abstract

Background: Efficient infection prevention and control (IPC) practices are basic requirements for all health facilities to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with microbial agents and hence excellent patient outcome. Adherence to IPC is important to reduce the transmission of nosocomial infections. Objectives: The main objective of this study was to assess infection prevention and control (IPC) practices among healthcare workers at the surgical department of Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH). Methodology: This study was conducted using descriptive cross-sectional survey of 156 participants plus observational study of forty healthcare providers and forty-five operation room cases. Stratified and simple random sampling was used in selecting the study participants. Data entry and analysis was done using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20 and Graph Pad Prism version 6.05. The univariate analysis was done using pie chart and bar chart and arithmetic mean. Bivariate analysis such as chi-square analysis, Pearson correlation, analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used for the significance of associations and multiple logistic regressions to identify predictors of IPC compliance. Results: Out of the 156 participants who responded, 22 (14.1%) were Doctors, with 107 (68.6%) Nurses, 12 (7.7%) Anaesthetics and 15 (9.6%) Orderlies. Approximately, 50.6% of the respondents’ were knowledgeable with regards to IPC, 55.1% of the respondents’ had a good attitude towards IPC and 58.3% had good compliance towards IPC. Factors associated with knowledge level were: educational level (p = 0.0001), occupation (p = 0.0001), Marital status (p = 0.0300) and age (p = 0.0300). The occupation was the only factor associated with the attitude level (p = 0.0480). The factors associated with IPC compliance level were: occupation (p < 0.0010), educational level (p = 0.0010), age (p = 0.0090), IPC materials iii availability level (p = 0.0010), IPC knowledge level (p =0.0010) and attitude level towards IPC (p =0.0010). IPC materials were 78.9% always not available, 14.7% sometimes available and 6.4% were always available. Conclusion: More than half the respondents’ reported having good knowledge, good attitude and good compliance towards IPC. And majority of the respondents’ reported that IPC materials were not always available. The major predictor of IPC compliance was IPC materials availability, followed by the occupation of respondents and age of the respondents’.