C. C. EDO-OSAGIE

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are a common occupational hazard among nurses, primarily due to the physically intensive nature of their duties. These disorders negatively affect the health, productivity, and quality of life of healthcare workers. In tertiary healthcare institutions, the workload and physical demands can vary significantly across different specialty areas, potentially influencing the prevalence and pattern of MSDs. This study aimed to assess the prevalence, types, and associated risk factors of musculoskeletal disorders among nurses across various specialty units in a tertiary healthcare institution in Benin City, Edo State. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among nurses working in specialty units such as emergency, intensive care, surgery, internal medicine, pediatrics, and obstetrics and gynecology. Data were collected using a validated, self-administered questionnaire adapted from the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data and identify significant associations. The findings revealed a high prevalence of MSDs among nurses, with the most affected body regions being the lower back (72%), neck (55%), and shoulders (48%). Emergency and intensive care unit nurses reported the highest incidence of MSDs. Key risk factors identified included manual lifting of patients, prolonged standing, awkward postures, and insufficient staffing. Nurses with longer years of service and those lacking ergonomic training were significantly more affected. Musculoskeletal disorders are widespread among nurses in this tertiary healthcare institution, with noticeable variations across specialty areas. There is a critical need for ergonomic interventions, routine training, and improved staffing policies to reduce the burden of MSDs among nurses

HAND HYGIENE IS A CRITICAL COMPONENT OF INFECTION PREVENTION AND CONTROL, PARTICULARLY AMONG HEALTHCARE WORKERS. THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION (WHO) INTRODUCED THE “5 MOMENTS FOR HAND HYGIENE” (MOHH) TO REDUCE HEALTHCARE-ASSOCIATED INFECTIONS (HAIS) AND PROMOTE PATIENT SAFETY. THIS STUDY ASSESSED THE KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICE OF THE WHO 5 MOHH AMONG NURSE-MIDWIVES IN SELECTED WARDS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF BENIN TEACHING HOSPITAL (UBTH), BENIN CITY, NIGERIA. A DESCRIPTIVE CROSS-SECTIONAL DESIGN WAS EMPLOYED, USING A STRUCTURED SELF-ADMINISTERED QUESTIONNAIRE. DATA WERE COLLECTED FROM 161 NURSE-MIDWIVES AND ANALYZED USING SPSS VERSION 23. FINDINGS SHOWED THAT 52.2% OF RESPONDENTS HAD GOOD KNOWLEDGE, 31.7% HAD FAIR KNOWLEDGE, AND 16.1% HAD POOR KNOWLEDGE OF THE MOHH. REGARDING PRACTICE, THE HIGHEST COMPLIANCE WAS SEEN IN MOMENT 3 (AFTER BODY FLUID EXPOSURE/RISK) AND MOMENT 4 (AFTER TOUCHING A PATIENT), WHILE MOMENTS 1 (BEFORE TOUCHING A PATIENT) AND 2 (BEFORE ASEPTIC PROCEDURES) HAD THE LOWEST ADHERENCE RATES. ADDITIONALLY, 60.2% OF RESPONDENTS BELIEVED HAND HYGIENE IS NOT NECESSARY IF GLOVES ARE WORN, AND 85.7% INCORRECTLY THOUGHT THAT HYGIENE COULD BE SKIPPED AT MOMENT 1 IF IT WAS RECENTLY PERFORMED AT MOMENT 5. THESTUDY CONCLUDES THAT WHILE GENERAL AWARENESS OF HAND HYGIENE IS
HIGH AMONG NURSE-MIDWIVES, THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT DEFICIENCIES IN BOTH SPECIFIC KNOWLEDGE AND CONSISTENT PRACTICE OF THE WHO 5 MOHH. STRENGTHENING TRAINING PROGRAMS, IMPROVING SUPPLY OF HYGIENE MATERIALS, AND PROMOTING SUPPORTIVE SUPERVISION ARE RECOMMENDED TO BRIDGE THESE GAPS AND IMPROVE INFECTION CONTROL PRACTICES.