Department of General Nursing, College of Health Sciences, Yendi, Northern Region, Ghana.
Department of Behavioural and Social Change, School of Public Health, University for Development Studies, Tamale, Northern Region, Ghana.
PLoS One. 2022 Jul 20;17(7):e0270508. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0270508. eCollection 2022.
Knowledge of and compliance to infection prevention and control (IPC) guidelines are crucial to curbing hospital acquired infections (HAIs). Globally, about 7-10% of patients suffer HAIs. However, there is limited evidence on nurses' knowledge and adherence to IPC guidelines. Therefore, this study assessed the knowledge and determinants of IPC compliance among nurses in Yendi Municipality, Northern Ghana.
We conducted a quantitative cross-sectional study among 209 nurses of the Yendi Municipal hospital, using an adapted questionnaire. We collected and analysed data using SPSS version 26. Socio-demographics, knowledge level and compliance to IPC guidelines were assessed using descriptive statistics. The minimum scores for knowledge and compliance were 0 each with maximum scores being 10 and 8 respectively. Using binary multivariate logistic regression, the determinants of IPC compliance were analysed and odds ratios reported at 95% confidence intervals.
The nurses had high mean and standard deviation scores for knowledge (7.26 ± 1.4) and compliance to IPC guidelines (5.41 ± 1.5). Females (aOR: 0.33; 95%CI: 0.17-0.64; p = 0.001) were significantly less likely to comply to IPC guidelines. Nurses working in Maternity/Labour wards (aOR: 8.31; 95%CI: 2.46-28.15; p = 0.001) and Outpatient Department (OPD)/Psychiatry (aOR: 5.00; 95%CI: 1.42-17.62; p = 0.012) were associated with higher odds of complying to IPC guidelines. Availability of IPC guidelines (aOR: 3.48; 95%CI: 1.13-10.72; p = 0.030) in a working department influenced compliance to IPC measures.
The study revealed high knowledge and high compliance regarding IPC among nurses in the Yendi Municipal Hospital. A person's working department and the availability of IPC guidelines were key determinants for high compliance to IPC measures. However, knowledge of IPC did not influence compliance to IPC guidelines. The Municipal and Regional Health directorates, should therefore ensure adequate logistic flow, provision of IPC guidelines and proper supervision to ensure maximum compliance with IPC guidelines, particularly among paediatric, medical and surgical wards nurses as well as degree holding nurses.
了解和遵守感染预防和控制（IPC）指南对于遏制医院获得性感染（HAI）至关重要。全球约有 7-10%的患者患有 HAI。然而，关于护士对 IPC 指南的知识和遵守情况的证据有限。因此，本研究评估了加纳北部延迪市护士对 IPC 指南的知识和遵守情况及其决定因素。
我们对延迪市医院的 209 名护士进行了一项定量横断面研究，使用了一份经过改编的问卷。我们使用 SPSS 版本 26 收集和分析数据。使用描述性统计评估人口统计学、知识水平和对 IPC 指南的遵守情况。知识和遵守的最低分数均为 0，最高分数分别为 10 和 8。使用二元多变量逻辑回归分析，分析 IPC 遵守的决定因素，并报告 95%置信区间的比值比。
护士的知识（7.26 ± 1.4）和对 IPC 指南的遵守（5.41 ± 1.5）的平均标准偏差分数较高。女性（优势比：0.33；95%置信区间：0.17-0.64；p = 0.001）不太可能遵守 IPC 指南。在产科/产房（OR：8.31；95%CI：2.46-28.15；p = 0.001）和门诊/精神病科（OR：5.00；95%CI：1.42-17.62；p = 0.012）工作的护士与遵守 IPC 指南的可能性更高。工作部门内 IPC 指南的可用性（优势比：3.48；95%CI：1.13-10.72；p = 0.030）影响了 IPC 措施的遵守情况。
该研究表明，延迪市医院护士对 IPC 的知识水平较高，对 IPC 的遵守程度较高。一个人的工作部门和 IPC 指南的可用性是决定其遵守 IPC 措施的关键因素。然而，IPC 知识并不影响对 IPC 指南的遵守。市和地区卫生部门应确保适当的后勤流动、提供 IPC 指南并进行适当监督，以确保最大限度地遵守 IPC 指南，特别是在儿科、内科和外科病房的护士以及具有学位的护士中。
