Abstract
BACKGROUND: Hand hygiene is critical to the prevention of Healthcare Acquired Infections. Compliance of health care workers to hand hygiene in developing countries is reportedly low. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess predictors of hand hygiene compliance among healthcare workers in Rwanda. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 26 selected hospitals. Trained hospital IPC focal points anonymously observed 1380 hand hygiene opportunities from 341 healthcare workers. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify predictors of compliance to hand hygiene among health care workers using Stata. RESULTS: The overall compliance to HH was 72.4%. It was respectively 70%, 77% and 60% less likely in labor (AOR=0.30, 95% CI: 0.19-0.49), maternity (AOR= 0.27, 95% CI: 0.17-0.43), and neonatology (AOR= 0.40 95% CI: 0.25-0.65) departments than in theater. Other clinical staff than nurses/midwives were 35% less likely to comply than did medical doctors. The availability of water source and soap at hand washing station was associated with 2.5 times higher odds of compliance (AOR=2.46, 95% CI: 1.27-4.77). CONCLUSION: The compliance to HH is associated with the availability of hand hygiene facilities. Well-maintained water sources and soap at hand washing stations should be a priority in health care settings.