Infection prevention control practices and strategies against hospital acquired infection among nurses in a tertiary health institution in South West Nigeria
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Date
2021
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Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences, Al-Hikman University, Ilorin
Abstract
Many factors might promote hospital acquired infections but hospitals and organizations have developed
effective techniques to prevent or reduce the incident of hospital acquired infections. The study assessed infection
prevention and control strategies in reducing hospital acquired infection among nurses in Obstetrics and
Gynecology Department, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital. A descriptive survey research design and
self-structured questionnaire with four sections was used in the data collection over a period of one month. A
convenience sample of 139 respondents was selected using Cochran’s Formula for the study. Validity and
Reliability of the instrument was determined. Data collected were analyzed descriptively and inferentially (at
level of significance of 0.05) using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) Version 25. The study reveals
that 65(48.1%) of the respondents with average mean score of 4.1 strongly believed that all health workers,
especially nurses should practice universal precautions, 57(42.2%) with the average mean score of 4.0 strongly
affirmed that utilization of infection prevention and control is of utmost importance especially in the reduction of
hospital acquired infection. The most common infection prevention and control practices among the nurses were
disposing of sharps into safety box and usage of color coding bags (n=43; 32%), while 100(74%) and 87(65%)
of the respondents with average the mean score of 50 and 40 respectively attributed effective utilization of
infection prevention and control practices to inadequate supply of waste disposal and unavailability of water to
wash hands. Based on the findings of the study, it is therefore recommended that continuous training of hospital
staff on hospital policies regarding infection prevention and control. Hospital management should prioritize
large allocation for purchase of hospital utilities, especially those items used for infectious waste segregation
and management
Description
Keywords
Prevention, Control, Practices, Strategies, Hospital acquired infection and Nurses