The Factors Affecting Level of Infection Control Practice in Benadir Hospital Mogadishu - Somalia

Abstract

Infection control is a discipline proposed to prevent hospital acquired infections (HAIs) for those vulnerable the incidence of nosocomial infections. Nosocomial infections or hospital acquired infections are infections that can occur within 48 hours of hospital admission, three days after discharge and/or after one month of surgery and is a major global issue that affect for both patients and health-care workers. The aim of this study was to investigate factors affecting level of infection control practice in Benadir hospital Mogadishu Somalia. The specific objectives of this study were; To assess the level of hand hygiene compliance by the health care workers (HCWs) in Benadir hospital, To determine health care workers utilization level of personal protective equipments (PPEs) and To evaluate biomedical waste disposal management of Benadir hospital. This study adapted a descriptive cross-sectional design and the study area is Benadir hospital in Mogadishu. the whole population of our study was 60 registered health care workers in Benadir hospital but 52 respondents were participated the study because 8 of the respondents were absent at day of data collection. The data were collected during May 2017 using structured questionnaire, observation checklist and interview. The data were compiled and analyzed by using SPSS version 20. we were observed that water sinks, solid soap and gloves weren’t available in two wards and their status of use were rarely use accounting 37.5% and 25% were never use, while the liquid and solid soap were not available at all, whereas alcohol based hand rub were not available in seven wards. The other PPEs such as facemasks, gowns & Aprons weren’t observed at wards. We also observed that biomedical wastes of the hospital were collected inside the hospital without segregation. In addition one of the hospital administrators told us that hospital doesn’t have infection control policy. Conclusion: Respondents were asked how often you wash hands after dressing wounds. The majority of respondents 24 (46.2%) said rarely. Respondents were asked how often do you recap used needles by hand. And the majority 29 (55.8%) said always. Respondents were asked how you would describe the infection control in this hospital. And the majority 27 (51.9%) replied poor, also we observed that HHC of the HCWs were poor, utilization level of PPEs and Biomedical waste management were very poor. The study recommends creating national policy for infection control practice to be adhered by the hospitals, to provide trainings for health workers about infectious control practice, to make sure availability of infection control facilities and To segregate the waste before it is disposed.