TUBERCULOSIS INFECTION CONTROL PRACTICES AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG HEALTHCARE WORKERS IN HOSPITALS OF GAMO GOFA ZONE, SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA, INSTITUTION BASED CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background: Tuberculosis infection control is a combination of measures designed to minimize the risk of tuberculosis transmission within populations. Healthcare workers are not sufficiently protected from tuberculosis infection in health-care facilities where infection control protocols are not followed completely. Studies conducted in Ethiopia about tuberculosis infection control practice were self-report. Objective: to assess tuberculosis infection control practices and associated factors among health care workers in hospitals of Gamo Gofa Zone, Southern Ethiopia. Method: a facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted from March 6 to April 2, 2019. A total of 422 participants were included in the study. The sample was proportionally allocated to each hospital and the respective discipline. Finally, simple random sampling was used to select participants from each discipline. Data were entered to EpiData Version 4.4.2.1 and analyzed using SPSS Version 21 software. Multicollinearity and Model goodness-of-fit was checked. Multivariate logistic regression model at 95% CI was used to identify the predictors for the dependent variable. Result: The response rate was 97.4%. The overall good practice towards tuberculosis infection control was 39.9% [95% CI (35.5, 44.9)]. In the fitted model, knowledge on TBIC [AOR=3.65, 95% CI (2.07, 6.43)], educational level of degree and above [AOR=2.78, 95% CI (1.7, 4.53)], ever having tuberculosis-related training [AOR=2.02, 95% CI (1.24, 3.31)] and working at laboratory [AOR=8.60, 95% CI (2.83, 26.10)], wards [AOR=4.19, 95% CI (1.53, 11.48)] and TB-clinic [AOR=9.94, 95% CI (2.64, 37.41)] were significantly associated with tuberculosis infection control practice. Conclusion and Recommendation: The overall tuberculosis infection control practice among healthcare workers in hospitals of Gamo Gofa Zone was 39.9%. The practice was determined by educational level, working department, knowledge on tuberculosis infection control practice and having tuberculosis-related training. Hence, training of healthcare workers, developing knowledge on tuberculosis infection control measures, and qualitative research to explore reasons for not practicing infection control measures is recommended.