FACULTY OF NURSING SCIENCES

Hand hygiene is a simple yet critical practice in preventing healthcare-associated infections, particularly in hospital settings where patients are often vulnerable to pathogens. While numerous studies have focused on healthcare workers, less attention has been paid to the awareness and practice of hand hygiene among patients themselves. This study aimed to assess the level of awareness, practice, and factors influencing hand hygiene among patients in selected wards at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Benin City. A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted among 190 patients selected using a convenience sampling technique. A structured questionnaire was administered, and data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26.0. Descriptive statistics such as frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations were used to summarize the data. Out of 190 distributed questionnaires, 185 were correctly completed and analyzed, yielding a response rate of 97.37%. The study revealed that 77.5% of patients demonstrated good awareness of hand hygiene, with a grand mean score of 1.8, exceeding the awareness benchmark of 1.5. Regarding practice, 70.6% of respondents reported good hand hygiene behavior, with a grand mean score of 3.1, above the cut-off of 2.5. Key factors influencing hand hygiene included understanding its importance, fear of infection, availability of hygiene materials, and encouragement from healthcare providers. The study found that patients in the selected wards of UBTH generally exhibited good awareness and practice of hand hygiene. However, gaps remain in consistent application, particularly in situations like coughing or sneezing. Efforts should be intensified to sustain and improve patient education on hand hygiene. Hospital administrators should ensure continuous availability of hand hygiene resources and promote supportive interactions between healthcare workers and patients to reinforce proper hygiene behavior.