Healthcare workers’ knowledge on nosocomial infections preventive measures and its associated factors in Ghana: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: Nosocomial infection is a worldwide health concern that affects around 1.4 million individuals and is like an endemic in sub-Saharan Africa. Despite advances in medical technology and surgical management procedures in both developed and developing countries, these infections still continue to be prevalent. The objective of this study was to determine the knowledge in preventive measures and the socio-demographic factors that influence knowledge in preventive measures of nosocomial infection, among healthcare workers in the Hohoe Municipality, Ghana. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from July to August 2021. A sample of 237 healthcare workers in the Hohoe Municipality was selected to participate in the study. Data was collected with a questionnaire designed in Google Forms and analyzed using Stata version 16.0. Results: The majority of the healthcare workers were females 124(52.3%) while males were 113(47.7%). More than two-thirds of them 195(82.7%) were within the age group of (20-40) years. Findings from this study showed that majority (69.2%) of the healthcare workers were not knowledgeable on the preventive measures of nosocomial infections. However, the study revealed that age [aOR=0.25; 95%CI=0.09-0.69), p=0.007] and in-service training or workshop [aOR=9.55; 95%CI=1.23-74.36), p=0.031] were statistically significant to healthcare workers’ knowledge in preventive measures of nosocomial infections. Conclusion: The study concludes that age and participation in-service training or workshop are significant factors that influence the knowledge of healthcare workers in preventive measures for nosocomial infections. These results highlight the importance of providing ongoing training and professional development opportunities to healthcare workers to enhance their knowledge and improve their ability to prevent and control nosocomial infections. Additionally, the study emphasizes the need for targeted training programs that take into account the age of healthcare workers, in order to ensure that training is tailored to their specific needs and learning styles.