HAND HYGIENE PRACTICE AND ITS ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG HEALTH CARE WORKERS IN NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT OF HIWOT FANA SPECIALIZED UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL, EASTERN ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Infections, including healthcare-associated infections, are one of the leading causes of neonatal morbidity and mortality. Correct and consistent hand hygiene practice is crucial in preventing the spread of antimicrobial resistance and reducing healthcare-associated infections. However, healthcare workers' compliance with optimal hand hygiene in the neonatal units is unexplored in several settings, including Ethiopia. Objective: To determine hand hygiene practices and its associated factors among health care workers in the neonatal intensive care unit of Hiwot Fana Specialized University Hospital from December 16th, 2019 to January 14th, 2020. Method: Institution based cross-sectional study will be conducted. The practice of hand hygiene will be assessed by directly observing 174 hand hygiene opportunities using standardized WHO hand hygiene observation form. Further, to assess associated factors of hand hygiene practice we will use self-administered questionnaire that adapted from WHO health care workers hand hygiene knowledge and practice assessment questioner. Data will be checked and entered using EpiData v 3.1 and will be analyzed using SPSS 20. Descriptive statistics will be used to describe sample characteristics and their correlation, and p<0.05 will be used to determine statistical significance. Expected outcome: The hand hygiene compliance of health care workers and factors affecting the practice will be known in the unit. Budget: The total budget to conduct this study is 24,888 ETB.