Factors Contributing to Nosocomial Infections Among Children Below Five Years Old Admitted On the Pediatric Ward Of Mubende Regional Referral Hospital-Mubende District

Abstract

ABSTRACT Introduction: Nosocomial infections are a major public health problem globally and are on the increase despite efforts in the hospital infection control measures and contribute significantly to morbidity and mortality. Methodology: A two-day cross-sectional prevalence survey and award procedure survey was performed in the pediatric ward of Mubende regional referral hospital using standardized questionnaires, observation checklist and focused discussion guide especially with the health professional in the unit. All patients admitted to the hospital not less than two days before the survey was conducted were not considered to participate in the prevalence survey. The ward procedure survey examined the procedures to prevent HAI according to the WHO infection control guidelines. The patients with nosocomial infection were coded with code 1 while those without had code 0 hence the prevalence was obtained from code 1s. Results: The study showed that the occurrence of nosocomial infections among patient below five years at the pediatric ward of MRRH was 63%. Most of these patients were below two years (95%) while the least was between 2-5years. It also showed that majority of the respondent agreed that immune suppression of the patient, for example, those who are affected with HIV-positive can predispose them to acquire nosocomial infections. Relatively the assessment of patients revealed that all the 63.3% had lowered immunity. Malnutrition as an independent factor was identified to lower the immunity of patients and render them to nosocomial infections. The study also revealed that poor hand hygiene, waste disposal, poor hospital hygienic condition and inadequate knowledge and negative attitude by the health workers greatly contribute to acquiring of nosocomial infection by the patients. Conclusion: The prevalence was found to be 63% and malnutrition among patients was identified as one of the key influence in the development of nosocomial infection among these patients. Poor compliance to infection control measures especially hand hygiene and inadequate knowledge among both health workers and patient attendant were also the additional factors coupled with health workers’ attitude towards infection control, low motivation and poor supervision of health workers on the practice of infection control measures leading to nosocomial infections among the patients in the ward. Recommendation: Therefore training the health workers on these infection control measures and monitoring their practice and Providing enough equipment for infection control, for example, the gloves, alcohol hand rub, soap, operating sinks for handwashing and face masks among others can improve the compliance of the health workers to infection control and reduce the high prevalence.