Assessment of Compliance with Neonatal Infection Prevention Protocols in Federal University Teaching Hospital (FUTH), Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria

Abstract

Neonatal infections continue to be one of the major causes of illness and death, especially in developing countries with poor infection control practices and insufficient facility-based evidence. This study evaluated the implementation of neonatal infection prevention protocols by health care practitioners in FUTH Owerri. A quantitative cross-sectional research methodology was employed in this study, involving 100 participants selected from FUTH Owerri using stratified random sampling. A structured questionnaire was used for data collection, and analysis was done using descriptive statistics such as percentage, mean, and standard deviations with criterion mean; 2.5 in SPSS version 26. Findings indicated generally high levels of self-reported compliance across all assessed domains. Hand hygiene compliance was high among respondents (96.0%, Mean=3.83±0.45). The use of PPE, cleaning of environmental surfaces, and proper umbilical cord care also recorded very high compliance levels, with mean scores ranging from 3.89 to 3.97. Respondents generally adhered to aseptic procedures and sterilization practices, with mean scores above 3.50. Environmental cleanliness and education of caregivers on cord care were also well maintained. However, lower scores were recorded for documentation practices (87.0%, Mean=3.36±0.70), availability of PPE (89.0%, Mean=3.32±0.79), and regular infection prevention training (86.0%, Mean=3.33±0.93), showing areas where improvement is still needed. Generally, compliance was good but varied among indicators that are dependent on structure and processes. This paper concludes that although there is adequate compliance with neonatal infection prevention guidelines within FUTH Owerri, sustainability of this practice is constrained by inadequacies in terms of training, resources, and documentation. There is need for the hospital administration to ensure sustained staff training, supply of neonatal infection prevention supplies, and regular compliance monitoring in the facility.