Adherence to infection prevention and control measures and risk of exposure among health-care workers: A cross-sectional study from the early period of COVID-19 pandemic in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Abel Weldetinsae; Zinabu A Alemu; Kirubel Tefaye; Melaku Gizaw; Ermias Alemahyehu; Adamu Tayachew; Sisay Derso; Moa Abate; Mesaye Getachew; Daniel Abera; Arone Mebrhatu; Higu Kefale; Shambel Habebe; Tsigereda Assefa; Aderajew Mekonnen; Getachew Tollera; Masresha Tessema

doi:10.1002/hsr2.1365

Adherence to infection prevention and control measures and risk of exposure among health-care workers: A cross-sectional study from the early period of COVID-19 pandemic in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Health Sci Rep. 2023 Jun 23;6(6):e1365. doi: 10.1002/hsr2.1365. eCollection 2023 Jun.

Authors

Abel Weldetinsae¹, Zinabu A Alemu¹, Kirubel Tefaye¹, Melaku Gizaw¹, Ermias Alemahyehu¹, Adamu Tayachew¹, Sisay Derso¹, Moa Abate¹, Mesaye Getachew¹, Daniel Abera¹, Arone Mebrhatu¹, Higu Kefale², Shambel Habebe¹, Tsigereda Assefa¹, Aderajew Mekonnen¹, Getachew Tollera¹, Masresha Tessema¹

Affiliations

¹ Ethiopian Public Health Institute Addis Ababa Ethiopia.
² Ethiopia Ministry of Health Addis Ababa Ethiopia.

Abstract

Background and aim: Healthcare workers (HCWs) are considered a high-risk group for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) exposure, ascribed to the amount of time they spend in health-care facilities (HCFs). This study aimed to assess HCWs' compliance with Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) procedures and the risk of exposure during the early period of the pandemic in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted from June to September 2020. With a response rate of 79.2%, a standardized questionnaire was administered among 247 HCWs, working in eight HCFs. Descriptive and multivariate regression analysis was carried out in STATA version 16.

Results: About 22.5% (55) of the HCWs had proper adherence to IPC procedures. Of the total participants, 28.2% (69) had proper use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), 40% (98) had proper hand hygiene practices, and 33.1% (81) had frequently cleaned their working environment. HCWs who received training on IPC protocols were four times more likely to follow IPC standards than those with no training (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 3.93; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.46, 10.58). Besides, HCWs working in treatment centers were four times more likely to follow IPC standards than those working in conventional hospitals (AOR = 3.61; 95% CI:1.63, 8.02). Nurses were four times more likely to have adherence to IPC measures than cleaners and runners (AOR = 4.37; 95% CI: 1.38-13.88).

Conclusion: The nature and magnitude of the pandemic did not introduce the required degree of adherence to IPC procedures, per se does not match the level of diligence needed to halt SARS-CoV-2 transmission. Our finding suggested that providing periodic training of HCWs with particular emphasis on nonclinical staff is commendable. Furthermore, it is necessary to maintain resilent IPC in HCF through continous follow up and safety drills, to assess the readiness of HFCs' adherance to IPC measures under normal circumstances, which could improve prepardeness for an effective response during epidemics.

Keywords: SARS‐CoV‐2; fomite; hygiene; infection‐prevention.