Hand hygiene practices and resources in a teaching hospital in Ghana

Alfred Edwin Yawson; Afua A. J Hesse

doi:10.3855/jidc.2422

Hand hygiene practices and resources in a teaching hospital in Ghana

Authors

Alfred Edwin Yawson Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Korle-Bu, Accra, Ghana
Afua A. J Hesse Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Korle-Bu, Accra, Ghana

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.2422

Keywords:

hand hygiene, nosocomial infections, alcohol hand rub, health workers, teaching hospital, Ghana

Abstract

Introduction: Nosocomial infections have long been neglected in Sub-Saharan Africa, and hand hygiene (HH) is usually neglected in hospital settings. This study aimed to provide baseline data on HH compliance among health workers and HH resources in a large West African teaching hospital.

Methodology: A cross-sectional, unobtrusive observational study assessed personal and care-related HH compliance among doctors and nurses and HH resources in 15 service provision centres of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH), Ghana, in 2011. Data was collected with an infection prevention checklist and health worker HH compliance form, based on World Health Organization guidelines.

Results: Care-related HH compliance of doctors and nurses was low and basic HH resources were deficient in all 15 service centres. Care-related HH compliance among doctors ranged from 9.2% to 57% and 9.6% to 54% among nurses. HH compliance was higher when risk was perceived to be higher (i.e., in the emergency and wound dressing/treatment rooms and labour wards). The neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) showed the highest level of compliance among health workers. Facilities for HH, particularly alcohol hand rub and liquid soap dispensers were shown to be deficient.

Conclusion: Care-related HH compliance among doctors and nurses in this large West African hospital is low; however, the NICU, which had implemented HH interventions, had better HH compliance. HH intervention programs should be designed and promoted in all service centres. Also, the introduction of alcohol-based hand rubs as an accessible and effective HH alternative in Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital is recommended.

Author Biographies

Alfred Edwin Yawson, Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Korle-Bu, Accra, Ghana

Consultant Public Health Physician, Public Health Unit, Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital. Lecturer, Department of Community Health, University of Ghana Medical School, Korle-Bu Accra, Ghana. Has a Master of Science Degree in Health Policy Planning and Financing from the London School of Economics and Political Science. I am the Quality Improvement Co-ordinator of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital

Afua A. J Hesse, Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Korle-Bu, Accra, Ghana

Associate Professor and Consultant Paediatric Surgeon of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital and the University of Ghana Medical School. Currently the Director of Medical Affairs of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital

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Published

2013-04-17

How to Cite

Yawson AE, Hesse AAJ (2013) Hand hygiene practices and resources in a teaching hospital in Ghana. J Infect Dev Ctries 7:338–347. doi: 10.3855/jidc.2422

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Issue

Vol. 7 No. 04: April 2013

Section

Original Articles

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