KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES, AND PRACTICES OF NURSES TOWARD INFECTION PREVENTION AND CONTROL IN HEALTHCARE FACILITIES: A CROSS-SECTIONAL ANALYSIS

Abstract

Infection prevention and control (IPC) in healthcare facilities are crucial in curbing the transmission of microorganisms that contribute to healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs), a major concern for public health. HCAIs against patients or healthcare workers are a calamity for the health system that brings increased length of stay, a rise in mortality, and escalated hospital expenses (Sulaiman Althiyabi et al., 2024). A proper knowledge of citizens regarding the transmission of infectious microorganisms is essential to maintain proper IPC in the health facilities (Golam Dostogir Harun et al., 2022). In particular, knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of nurses on IPC should be researched concerning HCAIs in health-care facilities, since they are at the forefront of health-care service provision and play a significant role in treating and educating people on infectious microorganisms. As reported by the WHO, a significantly high percentage of infections worldwide are occurring due to the ignorance on IPC. The objective of this cross-sectional study is to explore the KAP of nurses for proper prevention of HCAIs on the basis of HCAIs prevalence in the health-care facilities. HCAIs are not only a problem for patients but also a rising health hazard for consumers, so it is fundamentally important to collect information. To address these issues the statistical study is conducted in Hail region, using a survey to evaluate the KAP of facilitating health-care workers on the IPC in health services.