Authors : M. Uuchi Djalum Martin; Rosebella Onyango; Dr. Joseph Choge

Volume/Issue : Volume 10 - 2025, Issue 6 - June

Google Scholar : https://tinyurl.com/ye9hv9te

DOI : https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/25jun1745

Note : A published paper may take 4-5 working days from the publication date to appear in PlumX Metrics, Semantic Scholar, and ResearchGate.

Note : Google Scholar may take 30 to 40 days to display the article.

Abstract : Introduction: This study aimed to evaluate institutional policies and practices for the prevention of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) in the general referral hospitals (GRHs) of Ituri Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo.  Methods: A descriptive and analytical quantitative approach was adopted, involving 356 healthcare professionals from 18 GRHs. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analyzed with SPSS, employing statistical tests such as chi-square and odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals.  Results: The findings reveal significant disparities between faith-based and public hospitals. A written policy for infection control was reported in 57.9% of faith-based hospitals compared to only 15.7% of public hospitals (OR = 0.25; 95% CI: [0.15–0.41]; p = 0.000). Similarly, the availability of functional committees, meeting minutes, and information systems was significantly higher in faith-based institutions (p < 0.05). Hand hygiene was identified as the main preventive measure (38.8%), with no significant difference between hospital types (p = 0.094), while additional precautions were more frequently implemented in faith-based hospitals (OR = 0.43; CI: [0.20–0.91]).  Conclusion: Public hospitals exhibit major structural and functional deficiencies in the fight against HAIs, underscoring the urgent need for reforms in governance, staff training, and provision of adequate equipment. An effective response to HAIs requires a systemic and integrated approach, mobilizing institutional, human, and material resources in a coordinated manner to ensure quality care and patient safety across all hospitals in Ituri Province.

Keywords : Institutional Policies, Prevention, Healthcare-Associated Infections, General Referral Hospitals, Ituri.

References :

1. Abdullahi, A., Musa, H. M., & Abdulkadir, M. (2022). Barriers to infection prevention and control in low-resource healthcare settings: A qualitative study. BMC Health Services Research, 22(1), 143. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-022-07566-3
2. Allegranzi, B., et al. (2022). Global update on infection prevention and control in health care: WHO report 2022. World Health Organization.
3. Allegranzi, B., Tartari, E., Kilpatrick, C., et al. (2022). Global implementation of WHO infection prevention and control minimum requirements in health care facilities. The Lancet Infectious Diseases, 22(6), e174-e184.
4. Amegah, A. K., Effah, M., & Sam, J. (2022). Healthcare-associated infections in sub-Saharan Africa: Institutional dynamics and challenges. Journal of Hospital Infection, 124, 1–8.
5. Asefa, A., Teshome, Y., & Hailemariam, M. (2023). Infection prevention practices in resource-limited settings: A systematic review. BMC Health Services Research, 23, 541.
6. Askarian, M., Rezazadeh, A., & Lamy, L. (2021). Compliance with standard precautions among healthcare workers: A systematic review and meta-analysis. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(22), 11980.
7. Bagheri Nejad, S., Allegranzi, B., Syed, S. B., Ellis, B., & Pittet, D. (2020). Health-care-associated infection in Africa: A systematic review. Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 98(7), 446–456.
8. Boyce, J. M., & Pittet, D. (2017). Guideline for hand hygiene in health-care settings. Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, 38(5), 693–710.
9. Cassini, A., Plachouras, D., Eckmanns, T., et al. (2019). Burden of six healthcare-associated infections on European population health. PLoS Medicine, 16(1), e1002812.
10. Haque, M., Sartelli, M., McKimm, J., & Abu Bakar, M. (2021). Infection prevention and control in low-resource settings: Current challenges and future prospects. Infection and Drug Resistance, 14, 947–956.
11. Hien, H., Drabo, M. K., Zoungrana, J., & Traoré, A. (2013). Connaissances, attitudes et pratiques du personnel de santé sur les infections nosocomiales au Burkina Faso. Santé Publique, 25(2), 173–180.
12. IRC. (2021). Health services in crisis zones: Challenges in eastern DRC. Internal Report.
13. Irek, E. O., Irek, M. C., & James, O. (2019). Implementation challenges of nosocomial infection prevention programs in African hospitals. African Journal of Infectious Diseases, 13(1), 1–8.
14. Kakisingi, C., Bahati, S. A., & Mukalay, A. (2020). Évaluation des connaissances et pratiques des soignants en matière d’hygiène hospitalière dans les structures sanitaires de Goma, RDC. Revue Médicale des Grands Lacs, 12(3), 85–94.
15. Kassa, F. A., Tsegaye, A., & Ayele, M. (2022). Hospital infection control programs in Sub-Saharan Africa: A review. Journal of Infection and Public Health, 15(10), 1021–1029.
16. Katembo, A., Kalonda, J., & Mutombo, M. (2021). Nosocomial infection control: Analysis of policy gaps in Congolese hospitals. Pan African Medical Journal, 40, 115.
17. Kayembe, J. M., Ilunga, B. K., & Balamba, P. (2020). Leadership and infection control in Congolese hospitals. Pan African Medical Journal, 35, 112.
18. Kimbini, G. C., Nkulu, M. K., & Lelo, D. N. (2020). Nosocomial infections in DR Congo: An underestimated burden. Health Science Journal, 14(5), 1–6.
19. Kpanake, L., Mullet, E., & Sorum, P. (2019). Attitudes of healthcare workers toward nosocomial infections in West Africa. Journal of Infection in Developing Countries, 13(1), 12–18.
20. Mabika, C., Bompangue, D., & Shama, D. (2022). Formation et pratiques de prévention des IAS en RDC: un état des lieux dans les hôpitaux secondaires. Revue Médicale des Grands Lacs, 6(2), 55–63.
21. Mawazo, A., Moke, M., & Mutombo, P. (2018). Prevalence of healthcare-associated infections in Eastern DRC hospitals. Journal of Global Infectious Diseases, 10(3), 125–129.
22. Ministère de la Santé RDC. (2017). Guide national de prévention et de contrôle des infections associées aux soins. Kinshasa: Programme National de Lutte contre les Infections Nosocomiales (PNLIN).
23. MSF. (2023). Nosocomial risk in humanitarian settings: Case studies from Ituri. Médecins Sans Frontières Report.
24. Mujuru, H., Chandiwana, N., & Gombe, N. T. (2019). Comparison of infection control systems in public and mission hospitals: Lessons from Zimbabwe. African Journal of Health Sciences, 36(3), 45–53.
25. Musa, O. I., & Akande, T. M. (2023). Infection control infrastructure in public healthcare facilities in West Africa: A neglected priority. Journal of Infection in Developing Countries, 17(2), 189–195.
26. Mutombo, L., Kaputu, V., & Mukwege, D. (2021). Infection control policies in conflict-affected health zones of DRC: Reality or fiction? African Health Sciences, 21(1), 123–130.
27. Ndiaye, P., Diouf, E., & Diedhiou, A. (2017). Évaluation des pratiques d’hygiène hospitalière dans les hôpitaux publics de Dakar, Sénégal. Journal Africain des Sciences de la Santé, 17(2), 112–121.
28. Nzanzu, J. P., Bagalwa, M., & Mateso, N. (2018). Évaluation des mesures de prévention des infections nosocomiales dans un hôpital général de référence de l’Est de la RDC. Revue de Médecine et Pharmacie Tropicale, 28(4), 331–336.
29. Olowokure, B., Rudge, J. W., & Phengxay, M. (2020). Infection prevention and control systems: A comparative analysis in resource-constrained settings. Journal of Infection Prevention, 21(1), 12–19.
30. Pittet, D., Allegranzi, B., & Sax, H. (2021). Hand hygiene and patient safety: Progress and challenges. The Lancet Infectious Diseases, 21(10), e302–e313.
31. Suen, L. K. P., & So, Z. Y. F. (2021). Organizational readiness and infection control practices in underfunded health systems. Journal of Nursing Management, 29(6), 1690–1699.
32. Tartari, E., Tomczyk, S., & Allegranzi, B. (2020). Implementation of the WHO infection prevention and control core components in 88 countries: A global situational analysis. The Lancet Infectious Diseases, 20(7), 872–879.
33. Toko, L., Lunguya, O., & Kayembe, J. (2022). Challenges of infection prevention in Congolese hospitals: A multicenter survey. Infection Prevention in Practice, 4(3), 100212.
34. Tumba, D., Mangbinda, M., & Musafiri, B. (2021). Fonctionnalité des comités d’hygiène hospitalière dans les HGR du Nord-Est de la RDC. Santé Publique, 33(4), 501–508.
35. Uwamahoro, M., Ntambara, J., & Uwizeye, M. (2020). Hospital infection prevention in crisis settings: Evidence from Great Lakes Region. International Journal of Health Planning and Management, 35(6), 1372–1383.
36. WHO. (2021). Global report on infection prevention and control. Geneva: World Health Organization.
37. World Health Organization. (2016). Guidelines on core components of infection prevention and control programmes at the national and acute health care facility level.
38. World Health Organization. (2022). Global report on infection prevention and control. Geneva: WHO.
39. Zeroual, A. (2012). Connaissances, attitudes et pratiques des agents de santé vis-à-vis de la prévention des infections nosocomiales dans les hôpitaux de Bamako (Mali) [Thèse de doctorat, Université de Bamako].