Compliance with standard precautions in infection prevention control and associated factors among health care workers in Dodoma referral hospital, Dodoma, Tanzania.

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background: Compliance with Infection prevention and control (IPC ) standard precautions reduces the risk of transmission of infections between patients, healthcare workers (HCWs), and others in the healthcare environment. Infections associated with the provision of healthcare affect patients, consumers, and the health workforce can cause considerable harm and may increase the risk of morbidity, and mortality, and increase the cost burden to the health system. Purpose: This study assessed the level of Compliance with standard precautions in IPC and associated factors among HCWs in Dodoma referral hospital , Dodoma, Tanzania 2022. Methodology: An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted on September 2022 at Dodoma RR Hospital and 156 HCWs participated. Google form Questionnaires were used to collect data and questionnaire links were administered using WhatsApp. Data from the online questionnaires were collected on a spreadsheet, cleaned, and analyzed using Jamovi software version 2.3.16. To determine the contributing factors, adjusted odds ratios with a 95% confidence interval were estimated by multivariate logistic regression analysis. A P-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Approximately 32.7% of HCWs had high compliance with IPC standard precautions. The highest compliance was hand hygiene after touching body fluid 94.2% followed by redisposing needles in safety boxes immediately after use 90.4%, the lowest compliance rate was 5.1% regarding the disposal of the sharp box when 3/4 full. Being a nurse AOR (95% CI) 3.1(1.15-8.77) P value 0.025), completed two doses of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) vaccine AOR (95% CI) 3.5 (1.27-9.84) P value 0.015), IPC training upon hire AOR (95% CI) 3.0(1.27-7.07) P value 0.012), adequate PPE AOR (95% CI) 2.5(1.05-6.32) P value 0.037), enough sharp safety boxes AOR (95% CI) 2.7(0.98-7.59) P value 0.05) were revealed to be factors of the HCWs compliance with IPC standards precautions. Conclusion: This study revealed that the level of compliance with IPC standard precautions at Dodoma RR hospital is very low 32.7%. Being a nurse, completing two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, training upon hire, adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) supply, and enough sharp safety boxes were among of factors associated with compliance with IPC standard precautions. Therefore, the provision of enough safety sharp boxes, PPE, and training on standard precaution upon hire will improve compliance with standard precaution practice.