| dc.description.abstract | Healthcare-associated infections affect health care facilities and health systems globally.
Prevalence rates are estimated at 15 – 31% in low- and middle-income countries whereas
in developed countries prevalence rates range from 5 – 15% of hospitalized patients. An
estimated five million hospital-acquired infections occur in acute care hospitals in Europe
annually contributing to 135,000 deaths per year and 25 million extra days of hospital
stay with an economic burden of 13 - 24 billion Euros per year. Adherence to hand
hygiene guidelines is the single most important measure in reducing the healthcareacquired
infection burden. The objective of this study was to determine the level of health
care worker‟s compliance with hand hygiene guidelines and identify factors that
influence compliance at Embu Level 5 Hospital, Embu County. A quantitative crosssectional
survey was carried out between June-August 2015. Stratified random sampling
method was used. Data was obtained using a self-administered questionnaire. A total of
133 health care workers who included doctors, nurses, clinical officers, laboratory
technologists, physiotherapists and support staff took part in the study. Descriptive
analysis was done and data summarized in frequent tables and percentages. Measures of
association were determined between predictor variables and compliance using Pearson‟s
chi-square analysis. Males were 50.4% and females were 49.6%, with a mean age of 36.4
years and median age of 36 – 40 years. Nursing staff (40.6%) and diploma holders
(44.4%) were the majority respondents in the sample respectively. The study revealed a
moderate compliance rate of 46.6% among health workers. It also revealed that
professional category, level of education and the level of knowledge of health care
workers, and the availability of disposable paper towels and alcohol-based hand gel
influence compliance with hand hygiene guidelines. The study findings suggest a need to
provide continuous training on hand hygiene protocols and an improvement in the
provision of hand hygiene infrastructure particularly clean tap water, hand washing soap,
alcohol-based hand gel, disposable hand towels and posters on hand hygiene. These
findings will be useful to the Ministry of Health‟s Infection Prevention and Control Unit
in formulating new policies, strategies and interventions to improve hand hygiene
practices countrywide. | en_US |
