Hand hygiene, a basic but critical preventive measure for controlling infections, assumes even greater significance in underdeveloped nations. A recent cross-sectional study in a Mogadishu hospital sought to evaluate the hand hygiene practices of healthcare professionals and the factors affecting these practices. The findings underscored the importance of hand hygiene among healthcare professionals as a critical preventive measure in public health, particularly in the developing world.
The study population encompassed a blend of male (52%) and female (47.3%) participants, with majority holding bachelor’s degrees and engaged as nurses or midwives. Majority of participants had over five years of work experience and demonstrated an understanding about hand hygiene. An overwhelming number indicated their compulsive hygiene practices, substantiated by cleaning and drying their hands at critical junctures – before, during, and after contact with bodily fluids during aseptic procedures.
Demographics such as age and gender, socio-cultural aspects like marital status, professional factors like experience and type of occupation, and availability of hygiene essentials like soap and water influenced their overall adherence to infection control measures in Mogadishu. The findings highlighted a pressing need to strategically augment hand hygiene practices in an at-risk setting like Somalia. It pointed at the need for enhancing resources and addressing gaps in training to curtail infection rates and to safeguard patient health.
The advent of antibiotic resistance and the high rates of healthcare-associated infections highlight the importance of enhanced infection control practices. This study therefore, not only serves as a baseline for future interventions but can also inform policy modifications and resource allocation, leading to safer healthcare environments and improved health outcomes.