Authors : Onuigbo, Sylverlyn Adaeze; Ogaji, Daprim Samuel

Volume/Issue : Volume 10 - 2025, Issue 12 - December

Google Scholar : https://tinyurl.com/3aw4ubfv

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DOI : https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/25dec526

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Abstract : Background: Midwives’ compliance with infection prevention and control (IPC) guidelines remain a major challenge in many hospitals. This study investigates the factors influencing midwives' compliance with IPC guidelines at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria.  Methods: A cross-sectional design with data collected using structured questionnaires among 200 midwives working at the FMC, Umuahia. Data on the knowledge, attitude, training, availability of resources, and institutional support that may impact the compliance of midwives with infection prevention and control guidelines were collected using structured self-administered questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential analyses were conducted with the IBM SPSS version 29 with statistical significance set at p ≤ 0.05.  Results: Midwives possess a moderate level of knowledge about infection control guidelines, with significant gaps identified in their understanding of some protocols. Significantly higher IPC compliance scores were associated with decreasing age, midwives who are single (0.85; 95%CI:0.48, 1.21, p<0.001) and married (0.83; 95%CI: 0.48, 1.17, p<0.001) when compared with those who are divorced/widowed. Direct positive relationships were observed between all the subscales in the bivariate analyses but when adjusted for possible confounders in the multivariate analysis, availability of IPC resources in the facility (0.07; 95%CI:-0.02, 0.17, p = 0.127) and Midwives’ perception on IPC (0.09; 95%CI:-0.04, 0.23, p = 0.180) were not significantly associated with IPC compliance among midwives.  Conclusion: The study revealed the level and factors associated with midwives’ compliance with IPC guideline in a tertiary health facility in Nigeria. Improving midwives' compliance with infection control guidelines requires addressing gaps in training, resource availability, and institutional support.

Keywords : Midwife, Compliance, Infection Prevention and Control, IPC, Guideline, Federal Medical Centre, FMC, Umuahia.

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