Infection Prevention Practices and Associated Factors among Healthcare Workers in Governmental Healthcare Facilities in Addis Ababa

Main Article Content

Biniyam Sahiledengle
Azeb Gebresilassie
Tadesse Getahun
Desta Hiko

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Failure to follow proper infection preventionpractices puts healthcare workers, patients and communities at risk.Despite the increases of highly contagious infections, infectionprevention practices among healthcare workers is unknown inmany developing countries. The need to understand infectionprevention practices is important for prevention and control ofnosocomial infections. Therefore, the objective of this study was toassess infection prevention practices and associated factors amonghealthcare workers in governmental healthcare facilities in AddisAbaba, Ethiopia.METHODS: A facility based cross-sectional study design wasconducted from February to March 2016, in Addis Ababa among629 healthcare workers who were selected by multistage samplingtechnique from 30 governmental healthcare facilities. Data werecollected using pre-tested interviewer administered structuredquestionnaire. Data were entered into Epi -data 3.1 and exported toSPSS version 20 for analysis. Multivariable logistic regressionmodel was used to identify factors associated with infectionprevention practices.. Findings were presented using odds ratioswith their 95% confidence intervals., A p-value less than 0.05 wereused to declare statistical significance.RESULTS: Six hundred five (96.2%) healthcare workersparticipated in the study. Four hundred (66.1%, (95%CI: 62.1%-70.1%)) health care workers had good infection preventionpractices. Having good knowledge on infection preventionmeausures (AOR =1.53, 95%CI: 1.05-2.22), having positive attitudetowards infection prevention practices (AOR=2.03, 95%CI: 1.26-3.26), having awareness on availability of standard operatingprocedures (AOR=1.97, 95%CI: 1.34-2.93) and presence ofcontinuous water supply (AOR=1.68, 95%CI: 1.11-2.56) werepredictors of good infection prevention practices.CONCLUSION: Two-third of the healthcare workers had goodinfection prevention practices. Having good knowledge on infectionprevention measures, having positive attitude towards infectionprevention practices, having awareness onavailability of standard operating procedures andpresence of continuous water supply werepredictors of good infection prevention practices.To sustain good practices, adequate pre-serviceand in-service training should be in place toequip and update health care workers aboutinfection prevention precautions. The need forcontinuous supervision should be implemented tostrengthen adherence for infection preventionpractices among workers along with sustainableand reliable water supply is crucial.

Article Details

Section
Original Article
Author Biographies

Biniyam Sahiledengle, Bale-Goba, Ethiopia

Department of Public Health, Madda
Walabu University Goba Referral
Hospital

Azeb Gebresilassie, Mekelle University,Mekelle, Ethiopia

School of Public Health, College of
Health Sciences

Tadesse Getahun, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia

Community-Based Education Director

Desta Hiko, Jimma University, Jimma,Ethiopia

Department of Epidemiology, Faculty of
Public Health