Assessment of Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Infection Prevention Among Health Care Providers in Chibombo District Zambia

Abstract

Hospital or Health facility acquired infections referred to as Nosocomial Infections are health care-associated infections that remain an important Provider/patient safety issue and represent a significant adverse outcome of the health care system. The topic of infection prevention is very important in reducing health costs and the impact of infections among patients in rural health centres. The main objective of this study is to assess the Knowledge Attitude and Practices on prevention of Infection Prevention among health care providers in rural health centres in Chibombo District in Central Province of Zambia. A descriptive cross sectional study of the knowledge, attitude and practice of infection prevention among health care providers in 31rural health centres of Chibombo district was carried out. Sample size proportional was calculated, and inclusion was done by using simple random sampling in order to make the calculated overall sample size. Data was obtained through structured, self-administered questionnaire. Summated scores were used to grade respondents’ knowledge attitudes and practices of Infection Prevention among health care providers in rural health centres in Chibombo District. Data analysis was done using the Statistical package for Social Science (SPSS) version 21, presented using descriptive statistics of frequencies, percentages, pie chart. Inferential statistics of Chi-square was used to test for associations between various factors and the knowledge, attitude and practices of Infection Prevention among health care providers in rural health facilities of Chibombo. A total of 94 (62.7%) out of 150 respondents had high level of knowledge while, considerable proportion of 55 (36.7%) out of 150 respondents had poor knowledge. Almost one-third (26%) had poor Practice meanwhile all the respondents150 (100%) had a positive attitude toward infection prevention. There was statistical significant association between profession of health workers, and practice of health care providers towards Infection prevention (P 0.05). There is need for the government to consistently provide monthly grant allocation to support in-service training, enforce IP guidelines, purchase of sterilizers, PPEs, increase supervision of IP activities to all rural health facilities in Chibombo district through their committees.