CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

1.1. Introduction 

Infection prevention and control is a scientific approach and practical solution designed to prevent harm caused by infection to patients and nurses. Infection prevention control occupies a unique position in the field of patient safety and quality universal health coverage since it is relevant to health workers and patients at every single healthcare encounter World Health Organisation (WHO, 2019). Nurses and student nurses play a major role in providing quality care to patients without introducing infections during health care delivery by using appropriate personal protective equipment, practicing proper hand wash, and ensuring aseptic technique during procedures to reduce infection transmission.

 1.2. Background

Infection-related diseases are still the main cause of death in Namibia, according to the 2019 health profile acquired by (WHO, 2019) statistics. The burden of disease in Namibia includes HIV, TB, Covid-19, Malaria, other infectious diseases and respiratory infections. Expansion of the infection prevention and control movements occur due to the increase in infection occurrences in the country. 

Infected patients are admitted into hospitals and therefore hospitals have become common settings for transmission of diseases. In hospitals, infected patients are a source of infection transmission to other patients, health care workers and visitors (Sydnor & Perl, 2018). Nosocomial infection, also known as hospital-acquired infections is one of the leading causes of death and has much economic cost due to increased hospitalization and prognosis (WHO, 2019). According to WHO (2019), Hospital acquired infection is defined as an infection occurring in a patient during the process of care within a health care facility which was not present or incubating at the time of admission. 

Different studies have shown that most health care providers have inadequate knowledge and practice (Cardo et al., 2019; Bhandari & Rairikar, 2016).  A study conducted in Pakistan showed that, a significant number of participants had inadequate practice on prevention of HAIs (Zaidi et al., 2016). Similar study in Iran found that 43% of student nurses have inadequate knowledge and 42% have conventional methods to prevent HAIs (Sarani et al., 2018). Another study in India showed that the practice of student nurses on prevention of HAIs was 58% (Taneja et al., 2019). 

Similarly, in a correlational descriptive study done by Darawad and Al-Hussami (2013) to explore Jordanian nursing students’ knowledge of, attitudes towards, and compliance with infection control precautions participants were found to have inadequate knowledge about infection control precautions 50%, positive attitudes 90%, and moderate compliance 76%. Participants’ attitudes toward infection control precautions. Special courses for infection control precautions within nursing schools in Jordan are recommended with special focus on students’ attitudes.

Lack of knowledge among student nurses can increase the rate of hospital acquired infections. This is supported by a study that was conducted in Zimbabwe by Trivanhu, Ancia and Petronella (2014) who determined the barriers of infection prevention and control practices among student nurses at the Bindura provincial hospital. The study revealed that the majority of student nurses lack knowledge on infection control principles only 14 student nurses of 50 had excellent knowledge on infection control principles.

Locally, a study done by Ojulong, Mitonga and Iipinge (2013) on knowledge and attitudes on infection prevention and control among health science student at University of Namibia showed that, 31.1% of student nurses had knowledge regarding infection prevention and control compared to 68.9% without the knowledge. Ojulong et al., (2013) concluded that student nurses had poor practice on infection prevention through hand hygiene, use of adequate personal protective equipment, decontamination, cleaning of instruments, sterilization, and use of antiseptics, disposal of sharps and waste disposal. Therefore, this study seeks to assess the knowledge and practices regarding infection, prevention and control among student nurses 

 1.3. Problem statement

Poor hospital hygiene has been widely publicized, including patients’ concerns about safety in hospitals. This has made infection control a hot topic in clinical practice, the media and the community at large (Shirley, 2019). During clinical practice at Buea Regional Hospital, the researcher observed that student nurses do not apply infection prevention and control measures such as the use of personal protective equipment, hand wash, safe disposal of needles etc. Hayeh and Esena, (2013) highlighted that lack of knowledge in infection prevention and control contribute to high rates of hospital-acquired infections. Uncontrolled nosocomial infection contributes to prolonged stay, morbidity and mortality that put stress on health care center under review. Therefore, it prompted the researcher to undertake a scientific study to explore the knowledge and practice regarding infection, prevention and control among student nurses at Buea Regional Hospital.  

1.4. Research question

What is the knowledge and practices of student nurses regarding infection prevention and control at Buea Regional Hospital?

1.5. Purpose of the study

The purpose of the study is to assess and describe the knowledge and practices regarding infection, prevention and control among student nurses at Buea Regional Hospital.

1.6. Research objectives 

• To assess and describe the level of student nurses’ knowledge regarding infection prevention and control at Buea Regional Hospital;
• To assess and describe the level of student nurses’ practices regarding infection prevention and control at Buea Regional Hospital;
• To formulate necessary recommendation on infection prevention and control.