Factors associated with hand hygiene amongst health care workers at Chivi district hospital
- Author
- Chisi, Dadirai
- Title
- Factors associated with hand hygiene amongst health care workers at Chivi district hospital
- Abstract
- This study examined the factors influencing hand hygiene (HH) compliance among healthcare workers (HCW's) at Chivi District Hospital, Zimbabwe. Hand hygiene remains a cornerstone of infection prevention, yet adherence among HCW's, particularly in resource-limited settings, continues to fall below global standards. A descriptive cross-sectional design was employed, utilizing self-administered questionnaires to gather data from nurses and doctors in direct patient care. Findings revealed high levels of knowledge and awareness, with the majority of participants familiar with the World Health Organization's "Five Moments for Hand Hygiene" and having received formal training. Despite this, consistent compliance was hindered by systemic barriers, including water supply disruptions, high workload, time constraints, and forgetfulness. Notably, essential Hand Hygiene (HH) resources such as soap, gloves, and alcohol-based hand rubs were largely available, and attitudes toward hand hygiene were overwhelmingly positive. The study underscores a critical gap between knowledge and practice, highlighting the need for multifaceted interventions. Recommendations include infrastructure improvements, continuous training, institutional support, and the integration of behavioral prompts to reinforce HH compliance. Strengthening HH practices is essential to reducing healthcare-associated infections and improving overall patient safety in similar healthcare settings.
- Date
- October 2025
- Publisher
- BUSE
- Keywords
- healthcare workers
- Supervisor
- Dr P. Ndarukwa,
- Item sets
- Department of Health Sciences
- Media
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DADIRAI CHISI-Health.pdf
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