Adherence of healthcare personnel to infection prevention and control program in maternal and child hospitals in Sana'a City, Yemen, cross-sectional study.
- 1Health Office of Sana'a Governorate, Sana'a City, Yemen.
- 2Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sana'a University, Sana'a City, Yemen.
- 3Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sana'a University, Sana'a City, Yemen. [email protected].
Abstract
Background
Infection prevention and control (IPC) is essential in maternal and child healthcare settings to reduce healthcare-associated infections. Evidence on IPC program implementation, staff knowledge, and adherence in Yemeni hospitals remains limited. This study aimed to evaluate IPC program implementation, assess healthcare personnel knowledge and adherence, and explore factors associated with IPC adherence in public and private maternal and child hospitals in Sana'a City.Methods
A cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2024 to May 2025 in one public and one private maternal and child hospital in Sana'a. IPC program implementation was assessed using the WHO Assessment Tool on IPC Minimum Requirements for Tertiary Health Care Facilities. Performance was categorized as advanced (≥ 76%), intermediate (51-75%), basic (26-50%), and inadequate (≤ 25%). Healthcare personnel knowledge (37 items) and adherence (15 items) were assessed using structured questionnaires, with scores expressed as percentages of the maximum possible and classified as poor (< 60%), moderate (60-79%), or good (≥ 80%). Differences between hospitals were assessed using t-tests and chi-square tests. Univariable and multivariable linear regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with IPC adherence. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05 with 95% confidence intervals (CI).Results
Seventy-one healthcare personnel participated (66% public, 34% private; median age 30 years; 59% female). Overall IPC adherence was higher in the private hospital than in the public hospital (75.4% vs. 70.6%; p = 0.003). The public hospital had an advanced IPC program (80.0%), while the private hospital was intermediate (68.9%). Knowledge levels were moderate in both hospitals (public: 75.5%, private: 77.9%). In multivariable analysis, healthcare personnel with higher PPE knowledge, medical specialists, and those working in private hospitals had higher adherence scores.Conclusion
IPC adherence in maternal and child tertiary hospitals in Sana'a is influenced by individual knowledge and institutional and professional factors. Strengthening PPE-related knowledge and addressing institutional differences between public and private hospitals may improve IPC adherence and reduce infection risks.
Related
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- Infection prevention training and adherence to infection control practices in childcare and early childhood education facilities during COVID-19: a nationwide cross-sectional study in Japan
- Design, implementation, and evaluation of a comprehensive educational program for microbiology laboratory personnel and graduate students in teaching hospitals
- Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection Prevention Practices in US Hospitals
- Surgical Antimicrobial Prophylaxis: Clinical and Economic Impacts on Surgical Site Infection Prevention and Healthcare System Sustainability.
BibTeX
@article{sofan2026adherence,
title = {{Adherence of healthcare personnel to infection prevention and control program in maternal and child hospitals in Sana'a City, Yemen, cross-sectional study.}},
author = {Jamal Abdu Sofan and Yahia Ahmed Raja'a and Mohammed Abdullah Al Amad},
journal = {BMC health services research},
year = {2026},
month = jul,
doi = {10.1186/s12913-026-15198-3},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42902259},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Adherence of healthcare personnel to infection prevention and control program in maternal and child hospitals in Sana'a City, Yemen, cross-sectional study.
AU - Jamal Abdu Sofan
AU - Yahia Ahmed Raja'a
AU - Mohammed Abdullah Al Amad
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/07/01
JO - BMC health services research
DO - 10.1186/s12913-026-15198-3
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42902259
AB - Background Infection prevention and control (IPC) is essential in maternal and child healthcare settings to reduce healthcare-associated infections. Evidence on IPC program implementation, staff knowledge, and adherence in Yemeni hospitals remains limited. This study aimed to evaluate IPC program implementation, assess healthcare personnel knowledge and adherence, and explore factors associated with IPC adherence in public and private maternal and child hospitals in Sana'a City.Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2024 to May 2025 in one public and one private maternal and child hospital in Sana'a. IPC program implementation was assessed using the WHO Assessment Tool on IPC Minimum Requirements for Tertiary Health Care Facilities. Performance was categorized as advanced (≥ 76%), intermediate (51-75%), basic (26-50%), and inadequate (≤ 25%). Healthcare personnel knowledge (37 items) and adherence (15 items) were assessed using structured questionnaires, with scores expressed as percentages of the maximum possible and classified as poor (< 60%), moderate (60-79%), or good (≥ 80%). Differences between hospitals were assessed using t-tests and chi-square tests. Univariable and multivariable linear regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with IPC adherence. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05 with 95% confidence intervals (CI).Results Seventy-one healthcare personnel participated (66% public, 34% private; median age 30 years; 59% female). Overall IPC adherence was higher in the private hospital than in the public hospital (75.4% vs. 70.6%; p = 0.003). The public hospital had an advanced IPC program (80.0%), while the private hospital was intermediate (68.9%). Knowledge levels were moderate in both hospitals (public: 75.5%, private: 77.9%). In multivariable analysis, healthcare personnel with higher PPE knowledge, medical specialists, and those working in private hospitals had higher adherence scores.Conclusion IPC adherence in maternal and child tertiary hospitals in Sana'a is influenced by individual knowledge and institutional and professional factors. Strengthening PPE-related knowledge and addressing institutional differences between public and private hospitals may improve IPC adherence and reduce infection risks.
SN - 1472-6963
ER -