Assessment of infection control at Butiru Chrisco Hospital in Manafwa District, Eastern Uganda
Loading...
Date
2017-07
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kampala International University, School of Allied Health Sciences
Abstract
Introduction;Infection prevention and control is important for the improvement of quality care in hospital. This study aimed to identify risk associated with infection control, and to determine which infection control measures are available at Butiru Chrisco hospital and how these measures are put to use by the staff working in the hospital. In this study, investigation was made among staff members assessing awareness of risks for hospital-acquired infections, available measures of infection control, how these measures are being applied and tried to strengthen these practices.
Methodology: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at Butiru Chrisco hospital in Manafwa District. The study involved 100 respondents who were staff members employed by Butiru Chrisco hospital with different education standards among which awareness of infection control was assessed through a structured questionnaire that was administered to those who consented to participate. Random sampling was done on 10 staff members, this helped correct the questionnaire making it suitable for the study but the results were not included in this study. The study only included those staff members who were at work during data collection period.
Results: The study revealed that out of 100 respondents, 72(72%) were nurses, 60(60%) were females and 78(78%) had been employed by the hospital for less than four years. Half 50(50%) revealed that airborne infections are the commonest infections in the hospital. The study also reveals that more than 80% reported positive response to infection control tasks with 80(80%) agreeing that practice of infection control reduces likelihood of infection spread to patients.
Conclusion: From the study, it was concluded that, there is moderate awareness of infection control with more than half of the respondents having positive ideas about infection control and use of available measures like glove, Apron, and hand washing. However, practice and compliance with standard precautions was less than optimal. Because there is awareness of infection control, practice and compliance to standard precautions are being influenced by factors such as lack of appropriate supplies and lack of accessibility to essential equipment or facilities.
Recommendations: The researcher recommended Continuous health visits by ministry of health (MOH) of Uganda to the hospital and evaluation of the practices to ensure that the health workers practice infection control following the standard guidelines. He also encourage hand washing or use of hand sanitizers with alcohol or other antiseptics as measure of disinfection hands before or after handling a patient.
Government should ensure continuous supply of equipment and protective clothings such as aprons, eye masks, and gloves in adequate quantities and quality. This provides safety of workers from contact with infectious agents.
Hospital staff should emphasize waste management by providing bins for all types of waste produces and these may be placed in every ward to avoid scattering of waste.
Description
A research report submitted to the School of Allied Health Sciences in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of a Diploma in Clinical Medicine and Community Health of Kampala International University
Keywords
Infection control, Butiru Chrisco Hospital, Manafwa District, Eastern Uganda