KNOWLEDGE AND COMPLIANCE WITH PREVENTIVE MEASURES OF NOSOCOMIAL INFECTIONS AMONG HEALTH CARE WORKERS IN EDO STATE

This study assessed the knowledge and compliance with preventive measures of nosocomial (hospital-acquired) infections among healthcare workers in Edo State. Nosocomial infections present a severe global threat to patient safety, prolonging hospital stays, increasing medical costs, and contributing significantly to mortality rates, particularly in developing healthcare systems. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the level of awareness regarding infection control protocols among healthcare practitioners, determine their level of compliance with standard preventive measures—such as hand hygiene, proper disposal of sharps, and the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)—and identify the institutional and individual factors influencing compliance in selected healthcare facilities across Edo State.The study adopted a descriptive cross-sectional survey research design. The target population comprised diverse healthcare workers, including medical doctors, nurses, laboratory scientists, and ward attendants, operating in both public and private hospitals within the state. Primary data were gathered using a structured, self-administered questionnaire designed to measure knowledge scores and self-reported compliance levels, complemented by an observational checklist to verify actual practices. A total sample size of respondents was selected using a multi-stage sampling technique. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations) and inferential statistics (such as Chi-Square or multiple regression analysis) via the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), with the significance level set at $p < 0.05$.The empirical findings revealed a high level of theoretical knowledge regarding nosocomial infections and their prevention mechanisms among the majority of the healthcare workers. However, a significant gap was observed between knowledge and actual practice, as overall compliance with standard precaution guidelines was found to be suboptimal. While compliance was relatively high for hand washing and the use of gloves, it was critically low for procedures involving recapping needles and the consistent utilization of complete PPE during high-risk exposures. The study identified several systemic barriers to compliance, including inadequate supply of basic infection control resources (such as running water, soap, alcohol-based hand rubs, and PPEs), high patient-to-staff ratios leading to work overloads, and a lack of regular, institutionalized training and strict monitoring frameworks.Based on these findings, the study concludes that having adequate knowledge alone does not automatically translate into safety compliance in clinical settings without supportive infrastructure. Therefore, it is recommended that the Edo State Ministry of Health and hospital managements institute continuous training and mandatory re-certification programs on infection prevention and control for all cadres of healthcare workers. Additionally, hospital administrations must ensure an uninterrupted supply of essential safety resources and establish functional Infection Control Committees (ICCs) to monitor compliance, enforce strict adherence to protocols, and implement punitive or corrective measures for non-compliance to guarantee a safer clinical environment