Knowledge, attitude and practice of infection prevention and control among health-care workers at a regional referral hospital in Uganda. A cross-sectional survey.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51168/sjhrafrica.v7i2.2589Keywords:
Knowledge, Attitude, Practices, Infection, Prevention, Healthworkers, UgandaAbstract
Background:
The burden of hospital-acquired infections is highest in low- and middle-income countries, with rates of as high as 16% being documented, yet already burdened with a high prevalence of highly transmissible infectious diseases like Hepatitis B and HIV. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of infection prevention and control (IPC) among healthcare workers (HCWs) at a tertiary regional referral hospital in Uganda.
Methods:
A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted using a pre-tested structured questionnaire among 144 participants. The healthcare workers were selected through a systematic random sampling technique. Multivariate logistic regressions were computed to identify associated factors of knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of infection prevention and control, with variables having a p-value < 0.05 being considered statistically significant.
Results:
The proportions of adequate knowledge, good attitude, and practices of IPC among HCWs were 85.2%, 82.3%, and 59.8%, respectively. Advanced age (OR 1.19, 95% CI: 1.00–1.33, p-value = 0.040), male sex (OR 5.92, 95% CI: 1.02–34.5, p-value = 0.048), and longer years of work experience (OR 0.02, 95% CI: 0.00–0.47, p = 0.015) were significantly associated with high KAP scores above 70. However, having IPC training experience, the presence of infection prevention guidelines, and adequate PPE supply at the workstation did not show statistically significant associations with a KAP score above 70.
Conclusions:
The findings of this study revealed a good knowledge and attitude of infection prevention in the majority of healthcare workers, with a relatively minimal practice rate. Sociodemographic factors like age, sex, and work experience were associated with high KAP scores.
Recommendation:
Further qualitative research on behavioural factors associated with KAP on infection prevention and control is also recommended.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Henry Ssembatya, Christine Ndagire Namatovu Atuhaire, Grace Zungu, Joanna Nalwoga, Mariam Nakafero , Robert Sentongo
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