Assessment of Infection Prevention and Control Implementation in Primary and Secondary Health Care Facilities in Rivers State

Abstract

Background: Controlling infections in healthcare facilities is necessary for reducing infection transmission. There is limited data on the status of Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) programme in healthcare facilities in Rivers State. An assessment of IPC implementation in health facilities in Rivers State was therefore conducted.
Methods: In this cross-sectional study, stratified sampling technique was applied to select 99 healthcare facilities. Health personnel in-charge of selected facilities were interviewed using the validated Infection Prevention and Control Assessment Framework (IPCAF) tool. It was modified to focus on four out of eight core components areas and graded using the World Health Organization IPCAF guidelines.
Results: Twenty (20.2%) facilities had IPC programmes with clearly defined objectives and activity plans. A copy of the IPC guidelines was available in 56 (56.6%) facilities, however, only 13 (13.1%) monitored implementation of the guidelines. Forty (40.4%) facilities had healthcare workers that were trained based on updated IPC guidelines. Supply of personal protective equipment was adequate in 29 (29.3%) facilities and a mixed method of healthcare waste disposal was practiced in 46 (46.4%) facilities. Overall, 56 (56.6%) of the facilities had scores within the basic IPC level of practice while 43 (43.4%) had scores within the intermediate level of IPC practice.
Conclusion: Findings from this study indicate that IPC committees should be set up in all healthcare facilities with the obligation of updating IPC guidelines, training healthcare personnel, and implementing IPC activities in respective healthcare facilities.