Abstract
Compliance with infection prevention and control (IPC) protocols is critical in minimizing the risk of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infection among healthcare workers. However, data on IPC compliance among healthcare workers in COVID-19 treatment centers are unknown in Ghana. This study aims to assess IPC compliance among healthcare workers in Ghana's COVID-19 treatment centers. The study was a secondary analysis of data, which was initially collected to determine the level of risk of COVID-19 virus infection among healthcare workers in Ghana. Quantitative data were conveniently collected using the WHO COVID-19 risk assessment tool. We analyzed the data using descriptive statistics and logistic regression analyses. We observed that IPC compliance during healthcare interactions was 88.4% for hand hygiene and 90.6% for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) usage; IPC compliance while performing aerosol-generating procedures (AGPs), was 97.5% for hand hygiene and 97.5% for PPE usage. For hand hygiene during healthcare interactions, lower compliance was seen among nonclinical staff [OR (odds ratio): 0.43; 95% CI (Confidence interval): 0.21-0.89], and healthcare workers with secondary level qualification (OR: 0.24; 95% CI: 0.08-0.71). Midwives (OR: 0.29; 95% CI: 0.09-0.93) and Pharmacists (OR: 0.15; 95% CI: 0.02-0.92) compliance with hand hygiene was significantly lower than registered nurses. For PPE usage during healthcare interactions, lower compliance was seen among healthcare workers who were separated/divorced/widowed (OR: 0.08; 95% CI: 0.01-0.43), those with secondary level qualifications (OR 0.08; 95% CI 0.01-0.43), non-clinical staff (OR 0.16 95% CI 0.07-0.35), cleaners (OR: 0.16; 95% CI: 0.05-0.52), pharmacists (OR: 0.07; 95% CI: 0.01-0.49) and among healthcare workers who reported of insufficiency of PPEs (OR: 0.33; 95% CI: 0.14-0.77). Generally, healthcare workers' infection prevention and control compliance were high, but this compliance differs across the different groups of health professionals in the treatment centers. Ensuring an adequate supply of IPC logistics coupled with behavior change interventions and paying particular attention to nonclinical staff is critical in minimizing the risk of COVID-19 transmission in the treatment centers.
Highlights
The COVID-19 Pandemic, which emanated from Wuhan, China, has devastated the global community, disrupting all aspects of human lives [1, 2]
Ensuring an adequate supply of infection prevention and control (IPC) logistics coupled with behavior change interventions and paying particular attention to nonclinical staff is critical in minimizing the risk of COVID-19 transmission in the treatment centers
Medical mask Face shield or goggles/protective glass Disposal gown Remove and replace Protective Equipment (PPE) according to protocol Hand hygiene domain Perform hand hygiene before and after touching COVID-19 patient Perform hand hygiene before and after any clean or aseptic procedure Perform hand hygiene after exposure to body fluids Perform hand hygiene after touching patient surroundings Frequent decontamination of high touch surfaces Compliance with IPC during healthcare interactions with COVID-19 patients
Summary
The COVID-19 Pandemic, which emanated from Wuhan, China, has devastated the global community, disrupting all aspects of human lives [1, 2]. Data from recent studies showed healthcare workers are more likely to be exposed to SARS-COV-2 [9] and are, at higher risk of COVID-19 infection than the general community [10]. Prevention remains the best weapon for protecting healthcare workers against the COVID-19 pandemic [12]. Adherence to infection prevention and control protocols is critical at minimizing healthcare workers exposure to the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) [8, 13]. IPC strategies in response to highly infectious diseases, such as COVID-19, should include early recognition, physical distancing, source control, taking precautions and appropriate use of PPEs, restriction of movement, environmental cleaning and disinfection as well as support for healthcare workers [14, 15]
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