Compliance with infection prevention and control standard precautions and associated factors among healthcare workers in four health facilities in Fako division, Cameroon

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Healthcare-associated infections (HAI) are a serious public health problem. Healthcare workers are exposed to HAI, which in turn exposes patients to nosocomial infection. Compliance with infection prevention and control (IPC) measures can help break the infection chain and halt the transmission of infection to healthcare workers and patients. There is a paucity of evidence-based data on the level of compliance of healthcare workers (HCWs) with IPC in the Fako division. This study assessed healthcare workers' compliance with infection prevention and control standard precaution measures and its associated factors, in Fako division, Cameroon. METHODS: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted in four health facilities in the Fako division of Cameroon. A standardised observation checklist and a validated questionnaire were used to assess healthcare provider compliance with standard precautions for the prevention of infection. Data was analysed using StataMP 18.0. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify independent factors associated with compliance with infection prevention control (IPC) measures. RESULTS: We recruited 276 participants, and the Overall compliance with the IPC was 64.5%. Laboratory technicians had a compliance to IPC proportion of 91.7%, nurses 62.4%, doctors 60.9%, and midwives 45.8%. Professional Cadre [aOR = 8.32 (95% CI: 1.90-36.53), P = 0.005], health facility [aOR = 3.61 (95% CI; 1.29-10.07), P = 0.014], and the need for transmission-based precaution [aOR = 2.41 (95%: 1.38-4.19), P = 0.002] were independently associated with good compliance with IPC measures. CONCLUSION: Compliance with infection prevention control standard precaution measures of HCWs in the Fako Division was suboptimal and varied according to professional qualifications, health facilities, and departments. Factors associated with good compliance with IPC measures have been identified. These findings highlight the need for hospital-based interventions to improve HCW compliance with IP measures and break the infection transmission chain in the hospitals.