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Title:
Assessment of Hand Washing Hygiene Practices in Prevention of Cross Infections Among Midwives in Imo State University Teaching Hospital, Orlu, Imo State, Nigeria
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Authors:
Ezeama Martina C., Azubuike Victor., Enwereji, Ezinna E, Nigeria
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Abstract:
Introduction:
Studies have shown that effective hand
washing hygiene can lower the prevalence of most health care associated
infections especially nosocomia infections. Therefore, the practice of hand
washing among medical personnel is very crucial in the prevention of the
transfer of pathogenic micro-organisms from nurses to patients in the course of
rendering care. The practice of hand washing by aseptic techniques is regarded as
the most effective measure in the prevention of cross infections hence the need
for health workers especially midwives to practice it.
Materials
and Methods:
The study is a cross-sectional
descriptive study that assessed the extent to which hand washing hygiene in the
prevention of cross infections is practiced among midwives in Imo State
University Teaching Hospital (IMSUTH), Orlu. The study which lasted for 14
working days used 175 Midwives randomly selected in the Teaching Hospital. Self-administered
questionnaire was used for data collection. Data were analyzed with the use of
descriptive statistics.
Results:
The findings showed that 111(63.43%) of
the respondents regarded hand washing as a process of decontamination of hands,
57(32.57%) respondents perceived it as removal of microorganism from hands,
while 7(4%) of the respondents admitted that they cannot remember what hand
washing hygiene means. Respondents had varied views on the benefits of hand washing
hygiene as 85(48.57%) saw it as useful in protecting patients from nosocomial
infections while 46(26.29%) said it is useful in preventing transmission of
HIV. About 160(91.43%) of the respondents practiced hand washing while
15(8.57%) did not. Also 121 (73.3%) of the respondents admitted that inadequate
hand hygiene equipment affects the extent to which hand washing hygiene is
practiced in the hospital.
Conclusion:
The study revealed a gap in the
knowledge of hand washing hygiene among the respondents, as well as inappropriate
availability of materials to enhance the practice of hand washing hygiene.
Therefore, meaningful strategies that will increase the knowledge and practice
of hand washing hygiene should be adopted.
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