Knowledge and practices of healthcare workers regarding infection prevention and control in public and private hospitals of Timergara, Dir Lower, Pakistan

Abstract

Infection control is fundamental to ensuring patient safety and providing quality healthcare. Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are infections acquired during medical care, posing serious risks to patients, including increased morbidity, longer hospital stays, and mortality. This study aimed to assess the knowledge and practices of healthcare workers (HCWs) regarding infection prevention and control (IPC) at Dir Lower. It employed a descriptive cross-sectional design with a sample of 254 HCWs selected via the Raosoft sample size calculator from a population of 740. Participants were chosen through convenience sampling, following matching inclusion and exclusion criteria. The study took place in both public and private hospitals in Dir Lower, using a modified self-administered questionnaire for data collection, and the data were analyzed using SPSS version 26.0. Results showed HCWs had good knowledge of IPC, while their practice scores were moderate. Knowledge levels varied significantly with age (p = 0.046), and among medical professionals, the p-value was 0.000. Additionally, significant differences in practice scores were observed by gender (p = 0.0009), department (p = 0.006), and total professional experience (p = 0.005). Overall, findings suggest that HCWs possess strong knowledge of IPC, but current practices remain average