Abstract
BACKGROUND: Improving healthcare-associated infections, fighting antibiotic resistance, and controlling outbreaks are all made possible by infection prevention and control, a significant global public health concern, particularly in Africa. To pinpoint areas that needed improvement, this study aimed to assess Infection Prevention and Control in Somali Healthcare Facilities using the WHO Infection Prevention and Control Assessment Framework. METHODS: 307 healthcare facilities in Somalia, or 30% of the 1,023 facilities listed by the Federal Ministry of Health, had their IPC practices evaluated by cross-sectional research in October and November 2022. Descriptive statistics were used in the study to examine data categorized by facility type, ownership, and location. The facilities were divided into four IPC levels-inadequate, basic, intermediate, and advanced using the World Health Organization's Infection Prevention and Control Assessment Framework (IPCAF). RESULTS: The mean overall IPCAF score was 136/800, which indicates inadequate IPC practices. 85% of the institutions were public hospitals, while the majority (68.83%) were primary healthcare centers. CC1 (IPC Program) and CC 5 (Multi-modal Strategies) got the lowest values out of the eight IPC core components, suggesting major improvement. while CC 7 (Workload, Staffing, and Bed Occupancy) and CC 8 (Environments, Materials, and Equipment) had the greatest results. Inadequate IPCAFs were found in all States. The results highlight the urgent need for national and regional policies to give IPC programs and infrastructure funding the Highest priority, mainly in low-performing areas and primary healthcare settings. Regional differences highlight the need for specialized approaches to increase IPC capacity in every state. CONCLUSIONS: The initial IPCAF assessment of Somali healthcare facilities reveals inadequate IPC levels, highlighting the need for urgent intervention to improve practices, ensure patient safety, and support the development of a national IPC policy in Somalia.