STUDY TO ASSESS THE KNOWLEDGE OF, ATTITUDE TO AND PRACTICE OF INFECTION CONTROL MEASURES AMONG HOSPITAL WORKERS IN ETSAKO WEST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, EDO STATE.

Introduction: This study sought to assess the knowledge of, attitude to and practice of infection control measures among hospital workers in Etsako West Local Government Area, Edo State. Methodology: Three research questions and one hypothesis were formulated and tested in this study. Study area: The study was carried out in Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria, Study design: Medical personnel engaged in patient care, such as physicians, nurses, and others medical personnel, Sampling technique: A random sampling approach was employed for this inquiry, Data collection: Each participant or responder was be given a formal permission form, an ethics approval, and an information sheet. We promised participants that their names will not be required and that the information they supply will be kept strictly secret and used exclusively for the purposes of the study. We used simple, appropriate language or a checkmark to signify a response A survey of 150 health worker was conducted. Result: About 99.3% response rate was obtained from the administered questionnaire. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequency counts, percentages, while Pearson Correlation Coefficient was used to test the hypotheses. i. Ninety eight (98%) of hospital workers were aware of infection control measures, mainly through lectures (73.3%), staff information (14.7%), and the internet (11.3%). Most institutions (78.7%) have infection control programs, and 83.3% have policies/guidelines. ii. Hospital workers showed strong commitment (88.7%) to infection control policies, with many (88%) consistently adhering to. Factors contributing to infections included policy breaches (24.9%), staff carelessness (24.5%), and resource shortages. Most respondents recognize individual efforts (93.3%) and practice hygiene, but consistency varied. iii. Hospital workers maintain strong adherence to infection control, consistently washing hands before/after patient contact (90.7%), after handling materials (99.3%), and changing gloves (82.0%). Most use masks (97.3%) and eyewear (75.3%) during procedures. iv. The P-value (p=1.000) exceeded 0.05, indicating no significant difference in infection control awareness between government owned hospital employed health care workers and private hospitals employed health care workers. Discussion: The study reveals a high level of awareness (98%) among hospital workers regarding infection control measures, primarily acquired through lectures, staff information, and the internet. Most institutions have infection control programs and policies/guidelines in place. However, despite strong commitment to infection control policies, factors like policy breaches, staff carelessness, and resource shortages contribute to infections. The study highlights the importance of individual efforts and hygiene practices, with most respondents recognizing their role in preventing infections. Adherence to infection control measures is strong, with high rates of hand washing, glove changing, mask use, and eyewear use during procedures. Interestingly, the study found no significant difference in infection control awareness between government-owned and private hospital employees, suggesting that awareness is consistent across different healthcare settings. Conclusion: This study's findings indicate a high degree of awareness and dedication to infection control measures among hospital workers, demonstrating a strong commitment to preventing healthcare-associated infections. The primary sources of information on infection control measures are lectures, colleagues, and online resources, and most institutions have established programs and policies in place. While the study highlights a strong adherence to protocols, it also identified areas for enhancement, particularly in preventing lapses in policy compliance and ensuring consistent hygiene practices. Notably, the research reveals a uniform level of awareness across both public and private hospitals, emphasizing a collective commitment to infection prevention. These findings can inform targeted strategies to enhance infection control measures and further improve healthcare facility safety.