Background: Despite the well-recognized role of hand hygiene in the prevention of healthcare associated infections, the rate of compliance with hand hygiene among healthcare providers remains poor in Nigeria.
Objective: To assess the predictors of compliance with hand hygiene among healthcare providers in south-south Nigeria.
Methods: A cross-sectional study design with prospective covert observation of compliance with hand hygiene was employed to assess the hand hygiene compliance among 565 healthcare providers. Data was collected using a self-administered semi-structured questionnaire and an observation checklist. Descriptive and inferential analyses of data collected were carried out using the IBM SPSS version 22 software.
Results: The covertly observed and self-reported compliance rates were 18.6% and 16.9% respectively. The rates of compliance with hand hygiene observed for ‘after blood and body fluids exposure' (50.7 %) and ‘before aseptic procedures' (30.7%) were relatively higher than compliance rates observed for the other moments for hand hygiene. Adequate knowledge of hand hygiene (AOR = 2.70; 95% CI: 1.60 – 4.58), in-service training on IPC (AOR = 2.31; 95% CI: 1.45 – 3.67) and good perception of the risk of acquiring HCAIs (AOR = 1.69; 95% CI: 1.04 - 2.77) were predictors of compliance with hand hygiene.
Conclusion: The study brings to the fore the low rates of covertly observed and self-reported compliance with hand hygiene among the study participants. There is a need for the management of the selected health facilities to stimulate and motivate healthcare providers to improve their compliance with hand hygiene.