KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES AND PRACTICES OF NURSES REGARDING INFECTION PREVENTION AND CONTROL IN IMO STATE UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL (IMSUTH), ORLU, IMO STATE, NIGERIA

Vincent C. C. N., Asodike Maria C., Naze Ngozi S., Echendu Gloria E., Iwuchukwu Itar, Udemba Nkeiruka, Obeagu Emmanuel Ifeanyi*, Ibebuike J. and Ezeama M. C.

ABSTRACT

Among health workers, nurses spend the greatest time in care giving setting and they play a crucial role in preventing and controlling transmission of the infection through the application of standard precautions and maintenance of the health care environment. The aim of the study is to assess knowledge, attitudes and practice of nurses regarding infection prevention and control in Imo State University Teaching Hospital (IMSUTH), Orlu, Imo State, Nigeria. The study adopted a cross sectional descriptive design. Stratified and simple random sampling technique was adopted with a sample size of 160 which was determined by the use of Taro Yamane. The nurses were first grouped into different units/wards; then eight units were selected. Using simple random sampling technique, 77.3% of nurses in each unit were sampled excluding those on leave (annual, maternity, casual) and on night duty. A self-developed close ended questionnaire was used. Data were analyzes using descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings revealed that 19.4% and 35.0% of the nurses responded that the hospital always and occasionally supply infection control facilities respectively. Respondents with knowledge level were 64.4%, 59.4% had positive attitudes to infection prevention and control. The study further revealed that 27.5% and 31.2% of the respondents affirmed that they always and occasionally practice infection prevention and control respectively. There exist significant relationship between knowledge and attitude of nurses to infection prevention and control (2 = 28.2; P ˃ 0.05), between knowledge and practice of nurses regarding infection prevention and control (2 = 60.16; P ˃ 0.05) and between attitude and practice of nurses regarding infection prevention and control (2 = 52.44; P ˃ 0.05).

Keywords: Knowledge, attitude, practice, nurse, infection prevention, control.