Factors associated with adherence to infection prevention and control measures among health care workers in Mbale city

Abstract

Introduction Healthcare-acquired infections are significant causes of morbidity and mortality among hospitalized patients worldwide. The World Health Organisation estimates that the proportion of injections given with syringes or needles that are reused with sterilization is between 15% and 69% transitional and developing countries (Organization, 2009) Objective The study aimed at assessing factors associated with adherence to infection prevention and control measures among health care workers in Mbale city. Methods A purposive sampling technique was used to select the health care facilities comprising of health centers II’s, Health centers III’s and Health centers IV’s and hospitals within Mbale City in which the study was conducted. Some key informant interviews was conducted to get qualitative data and Quantitative Data analysis was done using StataSE 14 software. Results Out of 172 health workers who Participated in the study, majority were females 51.2 % (88/172) and 48.8%males (84/172), with most of them had at least attained certificate holders. With majority working in Health centre IIIs 37.2% 64/172 The study showed that, majority still lacked adequate knowledge on infection prevention and control guildlines 82.2 % (n=172), despite the fact that Half of the health workers had been trained/mentored on IPC and 100% acknowledging that they wash their hands using water and soap with few 12.2% using hand sanitizers. Conclusion There is still a great need to not only train the health workers but to also strengthen support supervision of the IPC committees in all health facilities both in Government and private facilities by the City medical health team to ensure that they do routine CMEs in their respective health facilities. And all facilities in charges to prioritize IPC issues during planning and budgeting in the next financial year 2022/2023.