PREDICTING LEVEL OF COMPLIANCE WITH INFECTION PREVENTION AND CONTROL PRACTICES AMONG HEALTHCARE WORKERS IN SOUTHERN NIGERIA USING ORDINAL LOGISTIC REGRESSION MODEL

ABSTRACT Introduction Adherence to infection prevention and control guidelines is critical to improving the quality of hospital care based on their efficacy in reducing the occurrence of infections that compromise patients’ outcomes. However, the impact of predictors on IPC compliance among healthcare workers has not been adequately reported. Objectives This study aims to demonstrate the utility of the Ordinal Logistic regression model in identifying the impact of personal and organizational characteristics on health workers’ level of compliance with infection prevention and control at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital. Methods A cross-sectional study design using a self-administered questionnaire was adopted. A sample of 235 respondents was chosen using a proportionate stratified random sampling method. We analyzed data using descriptive statistics and the ordinal Logistic regression model. Result The study result shows that IPC compliance among Health workers in UPTH is high, 77%. Predictors of compliance were found to be age group 35-45years (AOR= 7.679, CI= 1.214 -48.577), training (AOR=0.401, CI: 0.189, 0.849), knowledge, (AOR= 0.45, CI: 0.207, 0.978), management support (AOR=0.45, CI 0.16, 0.968) as they were found to be statistically significant with the level of compliance with infection prevention and control. Conclusion There is relatively high Compliance with Infection Prevention and Control; this can be further improved through improved management commitment and increased surveillance of health workers. KEY MESSAGE What is already known on this topic : Several studies conducted have reported various factors affecting compliance with infection prevention and control among healthcare workers. What this study adds: The impact of the predictors on IPC compliance among healthcare workers has not been adequately reported. Hence, there is a methodology gap in the literature. The findings of this study gave insight and quantified the contribution of each predictor to Infection Prevention and Control compliance level, thus, deploying epidemiological and statistical methodology in Infection Prevention and Control studies. How this study might affect research, practice or policy: The study provides information that serves as a proactive guide on resource allocation and areas of improvement in the Infection Prevention and Control Compliance program for program evaluators, facility managers, health agencies, stakeholders, and other policymakers. It provides researchers with guidance on adopting epidemiological methodology in conducting evidence-based studies.