Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of Infection Control Among Health Workers in Fortportal Regional Referral Hospital.

Abstract

Introduction Infection control is the measure used to reduce the spread of infection (stopping the spread of infection from one patient to another). Objective This study aimed at assessing the knowledge, attitudes and practice of the health workers in Fort-portal hospital towards infection control. Methodology A cross-sectional study design was used as it would give immediate results. 150 Self administered Questionnaires were distributed to health care workers at the Fort portal regional referral hospital. Out of 150 Questionnaires given out 112 were returned giving over all respondents rate 74.7 %. The findings of the research were then presented in tables and analyzed. Results The research found that the majority of the respondents were female (63%), the age of >35 years. 38.4%, had worked for >5years. The research also found that most of the health care workers had good knowledge on infection control apart from a few nurses who still had a knowledge gap which can be corrected through further studies and continuous medical education. the research again found out that most of the health care worker had positive attitudes towards infection control with an exception of few staff who still have a negative opinion about some of preventive ways of infection control. Though there was good knowledge and attitudes of the health care workers towards infection control, it was found out that the practices of infection still had some gaps to fill, this was evidenced by the big percentage of staff who got needle stick injuries with 100% dental staff, 80% laboratory staff, 50% anesthetist, 49.4% nurses and 38.5% doctors. It was observed that poor motivation, high staff patient ratio and lack of equipments in the hospital were some of the causes of poor practices of infection control in the hospital. Conclusion and recommendation In conclusion infection control can only be achieved 100% if the problems identified above are corrected by the responsible authorities so that spread of infections from patients to health worker, patient to patient and health worker to patient can be prevented.