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Health Care Workers Adherence to Infection Prevention Practices and Control Measures: A Case of a Level Four District Hospital in Kenya

Received: 20 February 2015    Accepted: 12 March 2015    Published: 21 March 2015
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Abstract

Infection prevention practices and control are critical activities that influence the quality of health care services. This study was conducted to determine the health workers adherence to infection prevention and control policies and procedures at a Level 4 Hospital in Kenya. A descriptive cross-sectional survey design were used. The objectives of the study were to: -Identify existing infection prevention and control policy guidelines at the level four hospital; -Evaluate the implementation of infection prevention and control measures; 3) Identify the barriers to compliance with infection prevention practices and control measures. Data was collected by questionnaire, record review and a focus group discussion. Quantitative data was analyzed by the statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) while information from focus group was analyzed thematically. The results revealed that Health Care Workers (HCWs) had good knowledge on infection prevention practices and control. There were written infection prevention practices and control (IPPC) policy guidelines and high awareness (98.7%) of the IPPC policy guidelines. The record review showed that there was approximately 6.7% nosocomial infections rate among hospitalized patients. Barriers to IPPC compliance among the health care workers (HCWs) included frequent shortage of water, inadequate updates on IPPC through continuing professional education and inactive IPPC committee. The study concluded that there was adequate compliance with IPPC, though there were challenges to implementation that needed to be addressed. The study was done in October 2010 to January 2011

Published in American Journal of Nursing Science (Volume 4, Issue 2)
DOI 10.11648/j.ajns.20150402.13
Page(s) 39-44
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Infection Prevention Practices and Control, Nosocomial Infections, Health Care Workers, Standard Precautions, Adherence, Compliance

References
[1] Hustins, W. C., Dente, B. M., O’boyle, C., O’Reurke, E.J. & Goldmann, D. A., (2005). Hospital Infection prevention and control: a model for improving the quality of hospital care, low- and middle – income countries. London: Churchill Livingstone.
[2] Zulu, M. B., & Chalanda., (2001). Investigation of Infection prevention and control in selected Malawian Hospitals. African Journal of Nursing and Midwifery, 3 (1), 46-50.
[3] Manyele, S. V, Ngonyani, H. A., & Eliakimu, E. (2008). The status of occupational safety among health care providers in hospitals in Tanzania. Tanzania Journal of health research. 10(3), 159-165.
[4] Centre for Disease Control (CDC)., Kenya MMWR Morbidity weekly report (2009). Introduction and transmission of 2009 pandemic Influenza A. HINI virus Kenya, 58 (41), 1143-6.
[5] Omari, M. A., Malonza, I.1., Bwayo, J. J., Matere. E. M., Mwatha, A. K., & Ndinya – Achola, J. O., (1997). Pattern of Bacteria infection and antimicrobial susceptibility at Kenyatta National Hospital. East African Medical Journal. 110, 135-143
[6] Muchina,P.,W. & Muchina E.,N. (2009). Transmitting infection: Testing disinfectants used in maternty Units. African Journal of Midwifery and Women’s health, 3(1), 12-14
[7] Inyama, H. K., Revathi, g., Musandu, J., & Odero, T. (2009). The incidence of nosocomial infections: Kenyatta National Hospital- Intensive Care Unit. Kenya Nursing Journal 38 (1), 31-43
[8] Creedon, A.A., (2005). Healthcare workers hand decontamination, practices with recommendation, practices with recommendation guidelines, Journal of advanced Nursing, 51 (93), 208-216.
[9] MOH (2010). National Standards and Guidelines on Injection Safety and Medical Waste Management. Nairobi: Kenya
[10] Borg, M, A. (2007). IFIC Basic concept of infection control (anon)
[11] Kulei, E. Factors Influencing Infection Control, Prevention and Injection Safety Practices among Nurses at Kenyatta National Hospital medical and surgical wards. Unpublished
[12] Wenzil, R., Edmon, M., Pitte, T., Geddes, A., & Buluzier J.(1998). A guide to infection control in the hospital, An official publication of international society for infectious diseases. Hamilton, B.C Deckers, Inc
[13] KNH, (2010).WHO Infection Prevention and Control. Infection Control Practitioner. KNH
[14] Wilcox, L., & Dave, M., (2000). COST OF Hospital Acquired Infections and the value of Infection Control,. Journal of Hospital Infection, 45, 81-84 Manuscript, School of Nursing: Nairobi University
[15] Gammon, J., Heulwen, M. S., Gould, D., (2008). Review of Evidence of Sub-optimal Compliance of Health Care Practioners to Standard Infection Control Precautions. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 17, 157-67
Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Alice W. Gichuhi, Simon M. Kamau, Elijah Nyangena, Z. Ngalo Otieno-Ayayo. (2015). Health Care Workers Adherence to Infection Prevention Practices and Control Measures: A Case of a Level Four District Hospital in Kenya. American Journal of Nursing Science, 4(2), 39-44. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajns.20150402.13

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    ACS Style

    Alice W. Gichuhi; Simon M. Kamau; Elijah Nyangena; Z. Ngalo Otieno-Ayayo. Health Care Workers Adherence to Infection Prevention Practices and Control Measures: A Case of a Level Four District Hospital in Kenya. Am. J. Nurs. Sci. 2015, 4(2), 39-44. doi: 10.11648/j.ajns.20150402.13

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    AMA Style

    Alice W. Gichuhi, Simon M. Kamau, Elijah Nyangena, Z. Ngalo Otieno-Ayayo. Health Care Workers Adherence to Infection Prevention Practices and Control Measures: A Case of a Level Four District Hospital in Kenya. Am J Nurs Sci. 2015;4(2):39-44. doi: 10.11648/j.ajns.20150402.13

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ajns.20150402.13,
      author = {Alice W. Gichuhi and Simon M. Kamau and Elijah Nyangena and Z. Ngalo Otieno-Ayayo},
      title = {Health Care Workers Adherence to Infection Prevention Practices and Control Measures: A Case of a Level Four District Hospital in Kenya},
      journal = {American Journal of Nursing Science},
      volume = {4},
      number = {2},
      pages = {39-44},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ajns.20150402.13},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajns.20150402.13},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajns.20150402.13},
      abstract = {Infection prevention practices and control are critical activities that influence the quality of health care services. This study was conducted to determine the health workers adherence to infection prevention and control policies and procedures at a Level 4 Hospital in Kenya.  A descriptive cross-sectional survey design were used. The objectives of the study were to: -Identify existing infection prevention and control policy guidelines at the level four hospital; -Evaluate the implementation of infection prevention and control measures; 3) Identify the barriers to compliance with infection prevention practices and control measures. Data was collected by questionnaire, record review and a focus group discussion. Quantitative data was analyzed by the statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) while information from focus group was analyzed thematically. The results revealed that Health Care Workers (HCWs) had good knowledge on infection prevention practices and control. There were written infection prevention practices and control (IPPC) policy guidelines and high awareness (98.7%) of the IPPC policy guidelines. The record review showed that there was approximately 6.7% nosocomial infections rate among hospitalized patients. Barriers to IPPC compliance among the health care workers (HCWs) included frequent shortage of water, inadequate updates on IPPC through continuing professional education and inactive IPPC committee. The study concluded that there was adequate compliance with IPPC, though there were challenges to implementation that needed to be addressed. The study was done in October 2010 to January 2011},
     year = {2015}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Health Care Workers Adherence to Infection Prevention Practices and Control Measures: A Case of a Level Four District Hospital in Kenya
    AU  - Alice W. Gichuhi
    AU  - Simon M. Kamau
    AU  - Elijah Nyangena
    AU  - Z. Ngalo Otieno-Ayayo
    Y1  - 2015/03/21
    PY  - 2015
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajns.20150402.13
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ajns.20150402.13
    T2  - American Journal of Nursing Science
    JF  - American Journal of Nursing Science
    JO  - American Journal of Nursing Science
    SP  - 39
    EP  - 44
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2328-5753
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajns.20150402.13
    AB  - Infection prevention practices and control are critical activities that influence the quality of health care services. This study was conducted to determine the health workers adherence to infection prevention and control policies and procedures at a Level 4 Hospital in Kenya.  A descriptive cross-sectional survey design were used. The objectives of the study were to: -Identify existing infection prevention and control policy guidelines at the level four hospital; -Evaluate the implementation of infection prevention and control measures; 3) Identify the barriers to compliance with infection prevention practices and control measures. Data was collected by questionnaire, record review and a focus group discussion. Quantitative data was analyzed by the statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) while information from focus group was analyzed thematically. The results revealed that Health Care Workers (HCWs) had good knowledge on infection prevention practices and control. There were written infection prevention practices and control (IPPC) policy guidelines and high awareness (98.7%) of the IPPC policy guidelines. The record review showed that there was approximately 6.7% nosocomial infections rate among hospitalized patients. Barriers to IPPC compliance among the health care workers (HCWs) included frequent shortage of water, inadequate updates on IPPC through continuing professional education and inactive IPPC committee. The study concluded that there was adequate compliance with IPPC, though there were challenges to implementation that needed to be addressed. The study was done in October 2010 to January 2011
    VL  - 4
    IS  - 2
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Training Centre, Moi Teaching & Referral Hospital, Eldoret, Kenya

  • School of Science & Technology, Department of Nursing Sciences, University of Kabianga, Kericho, Kenya

  • School of Science & Technology, Department of Nursing Sciences, University of Kabianga, Kericho, Kenya

  • School of Science, Technology and Engineering, Rongo University College, Rongo, Kenya

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