Healthcare Workers’ Compliance With Standard Precautions and Associated Factors in Bahir Dar Town, Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: According to the literature analysis, the majority of the studies focused primarily on public health institutions. Although assessing the compliance of healthcare workers in private and public institutions would give comprehensive evidence on existing problems and appropriate prevention method, as a result, research on adherence to standard precautions are still required. Rely on existing research, to the best of the investigator’s knowledge, compliance with standard precautions in hospitals of Bahir Dar town has not been assessed. Therefore, this study will contribute to narrowing these gaps and determining the scope of problems with standard precautions. Methods: An institution-based cross-sectional study design was conducted among 442 healthcare workers working in hospitals from June 10 to 30, 2021. A stratified random sampling technique was employed to select the study participants. Pre-tested and structured questionnaires and an observational checklist were used to collect the required data. The data were entered into EpiData and analyzed using SPSS version 22. Bivariate and multivariable analyses were used to assess the association between independent and outcome variables. Odd ratios at 95% CI were used to measure the strength of the association between the outcome and explanatory variables. Finally, a P-value of <.05 was considered as a cut-off point for statistical significance. Results: Of the 442 healthcare workers who participated in the study, 41% were compliant with standard precautions. Furthermore, 68.1% and 51.8% of the respondents had good knowledge and a positive attitude toward infection prevention, respectively. Consistent water supply availability (AOR = 1.92 and 95% CI = 1.63, 6.27), and access to infection prevention guidelines (AOR = 1.73 and 95% CI = 1.08, 2.77), and availability of personal protective equipment (AOR = 2.32 and 95% CI = 1.35, 3.98) were some of the factors significantly associated with health care workers’ compliance. Conclusions: The current study found that only about two-fifths of the healthcare workers complied with standard precautions. The study suggests that there is a significant risk of developing an infection. Therefore, the concerned organizations; Bahir Dar Zonal Health Office, and respective sectors including Amhara Regional Health Office and the Federal Ministry of Health must take appropriate measures to improve the implementation of safety practices.

The magnitude of standard precautions practice and its associated factors among healthcare workers in governmental hospitals of northeastern Ethiopia

“…A constant running water supply in the working area might directly promote compliance with standard precaution practices among HCWs because access to poor or interrupted water supply can hamper infection prevention practices in healthcare facilities. This association is consistent with the earlier studies done in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia ( 29 ), Hawassa, Ethiopia ( 31 ), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia ( 40 ) and Nigeria ( 33 ).…”

“…The results of this study were, however, less favorable than those of studies carried out in Bahir Dar Town (41%) (29), Dawuro Zone, southwest Ethiopia (65%) (30), Hawassa Comprehensive Hospital, Sidama Ethiopia (56.5%) (31), North Shewa, Oromia (46.8%) (21), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (66.1%), public hospitals in Abuja, Nigeria (76.2%) (32), and other two tertiary hospitals in Nigeria (50.8%) (33). The magnitude of compliance with standard precaution practice and knowledge among healthcare workers in public hospitals of South Wollo zone, northeastern Ethiopia, April-May 2021 (n = 1,100).…”

“…The results of this study were, however, less favorable than those of studies carried out in Bahir Dar Town (41%) ( 29 ), Dawuro Zone, southwest Ethiopia (65%) ( 30 ), Hawassa Comprehensive Hospital, Sidama Ethiopia (56.5%) ( 31 ), North Shewa, Oromia (46.8%) ( 21 ), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (66.1%), public hospitals in Abuja, Nigeria (76.2%) ( 32 ), and other two tertiary hospitals in Nigeria (50.8%) ( 33 ).…”

Compliance with Standard Precautions and Associated Factors Among Health Professionals in Public Hospitals of East Wallaga Zone, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia

“…Some of the studies conducted in the aforementioned health facilities had included HCWs in health centers as study participants in addition to hospital health workers. 6 , 10 , 22 Another study included non-health professionals as data participants. 24 In addition, one study used a measurement mechanism for dependent variables that differed from our study.…”

“…7,8 In Ethiopia, only about half of the HCWs practiced appropriate standard precautions. [9][10][11] The studies identified the associated factors for the poor compliance of the HCWs to the SPs, including lack of infection control programs, lack of training, lack of knowledge and negative attitude towards SPs, inadequate management support, lack of supplies, crowded hospitals and excessive workloads. [12][13][14] Different initiatives were set globally and nationally to improve the wellbeing of patients, visitors, attendants, support staff, HCWs and general community in health care facilities, including Clean Care is Safer Care (WHO) and Ethiopian hospitals reform implementation guidelines (EHRG) aiming to improve quality of service and Clean and Safe Hospitals (CASH) aiming to make hospitals a clean, comfortable and safe environment for HCWs by Ethiopian government.…”