Infection Prevention and Control Life Saving Skills: Practice among Midwives in University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital Rivers State

Abstract

The burden of increased maternal mortality is a global health concern. The burden is greater in developing countries such as Nigeria. This descriptive survey of midwives knowledge and utilization of infection prevention and control life saving skill in managing pregnant women was carried out in University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, to determine the knowledge and utilization of nurse-midwives on the concept. A sample population of 83 respondents selected through convenience sampling technique had a self structured questionnaire was administered to them to collect data for the study. Three objectives, three research questions and one hypothesis guided the study. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics of frequencies and percentages while chi square inferential statistics was used to test the research hypothesis at 0.05 level of significance. Results showed that majority of the respondents 41(49.4%) had good knowledge on the skill under study, but only 15(18.1%) always utilized it for managing pregnant women. As regards factors affecting the utilization of the concept, majority, 79(95.2%) linked it with poor staffing. Opinion on other factors affecting utilization of infection prevention and control live saving skill among midwives was also high: 74(89.2%) identified non-availability of relevant equipment and 66(79.5%) attributed it to emergency situations. Though, majority of nurse-midwives showed good knowledge of infection prevention and control skill, the utilization of the skill was not encouraging as it reflected non-compliance. The hypothesis testing showed that the calculated chi-square value is less than the critical chi-square value (x2cal=11.7, x2tab=12.592, df=6,p>0.05), based on this result we therefore accept the null hypothesis which states that there is no significant relationship between midwives’ knowledge and utilization of infection prevention and control life saving skill in managing pregnant women. Based on the findings it was recommended among others, that formulation of operational policies and legislation making utilization of infection prevention and control skill mandatory for all health care professionals providing care for pregnant women be put in place.