Hand Hygiene Practice and Personal Protective Equipment Use Among Dental Healthcare Workers in Private Dental Facilities in the Ayawaso West Municipality, Greater Accra, Ghana.

Abstract

Background: In the context of healthcare, dental professionals have been recognized as particularly susceptible to the transmission of respiratory infections, exemplified by the recent global pandemic, COVID-19. However, in the Ghanaian setting, the extent to which dental healthcare workers in privately-owned facilities adhere to infection prevention and control (IPC) protocols remains an understudied area. This research aimed to assess the implementation of fundamental IPC measures, specifically hand hygiene and the appropriate use of personal protective equipment (PPE), among dental healthcare practitioners, while also identifying factors that facilitate or hinder these practices. Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted, employing a self-administered questionnaire and covert observations by a mystery client to collect data. Data analysis was executed using STATA version 17, incorporating descriptive statistics, Chi-squared tests, Fisher’s exact test for variable associations, and binary and ordinal logistic regression to identify determinants significantly impacting hand hygiene practice and PPE use. Results: The majority of dental facilities (92%) possessed established IPC protocols. However, the knowledge of the WHO-recommended 6-step hand hygiene technique was suboptimal, with only 25% of participants demonstrating a correct sequence identification. Discrepancies were evident between self-reported hand hygiene frequencies and actual observed practices. Factors motivating hand hygiene and PPE utilization included the perceived risk of infection to oneself, the provision of adequate supplies, and care for infectious patients. The most discouraging factors, as cited by participants, were supply shortages and the absence of supervision. Conclusions: While knowledge pertaining to IPC appeared reasonably robust, there exists a substantial need for improvement in practice among dental healthcare workers in private facilities. Emphasis should be placed on training individuals in the WHO-prescribed 6-step hand hygiene technique to mitigate healthcare-associated infections. Additionally, the appointment of trained IPC focal individuals to oversee and monitor IPC compliance is recommended within all dental health facilities Key Words: Hand hygiene, Infection Prevention and Control, Personal protective equipment (PPE) WHO 5 Moments of hand hygiene WHO 6-step technique for hand hygiene