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Yirgalem Mohammed,1 Tadesse Tarik Tamir,2 Demiss Mulatu Geberu,3 Bikes Destaw,4 Natnael Kebede5 1Department of Health System and Policy, School of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Science, Wollo University, Dessie, Ethiopia; 2Department of Pediatrics and Child Health Nursing, School of Nursing, College of Medicine and Health Science, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia; 3Department of Health Systems and Policy, College of Medicine and Health Science, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia; 4Department of Environmental Health, College of Medicine and Health Science, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia; 5Department of Health Promotion, School of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wollo University, Dessie, EthiopiaCorrespondence: Natnael Kebede, Email natnaelkebedete@gmail.comIntroduction: Standard precautions are crucial for infection control in healthcare. Studies show public hospitals’ adherence, but data on private hospitals are scarce. Understanding this disparity is vital for safety, policy, and better patient outcomes. Hence, this study aimed to assess precautions and associated factors among healthcare workers at public and private hospitals in Northeast Ethiopia.Methods: A comparative cross-sectional study compared healthcare institutions. A total of 470 workers participated via stratified random sampling. Data collection used a pre-tested questionnaire and observation checklist. Epi data managed entry, while STATA analyzed. Binary logistic regression determined significance (P< 0.05) for variables.Results: The overall adherence to standard precautions was 51.6% (95% confidence interval (CI): 46.9– 56.2). At public and private hospitals, it was 52.2% (95% CI: 45.6– 58.6) and 60.4% (95% CI: 53.9– 66.9), respectively. In public hospitals adherence was affected by female sex [adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 2.58; 95% CI: 1.32– 5.02], availability of written guidelines [AOR: 3.10; 95% CI: 1.62– 5.94], having good knowledge [AOR: 2.05; 95% CI: 1.03– 4.11] and favorable attitude towards standard precautions [AOR: 2.21; 95% CI: 1.14– 4.27]. In private hospitals, it was affected by the availability of running tape water [AOR: 2.36; 95% CI: 1.10– 5.04], personal protective equipment (AOR: 2.22; 95% CI; 1.01– 4.93), color-coded dust bins [AOR: 2.33; 95% CI: 1.04– 5.21], having good knowledge [AOR: 2.10; 95% CI: 1.07– 4.13] and favorable attitude [AOR: 2.63; 95% CI: 1.39– 4.97].Conclusion: The adherence to standard precautions was higher among private than public hospital healthcare workers in Dessie City, Ethiopia. Thus, ensuring adequate availability of personal protective equipment, safety materials, and running tap water in working rooms, particularly in public hospitals is highly recommended. The initiatives aimed at promoting adherence to standard precautions should be designed and put into action for public hospitals.Keywords: adherence, precautions, personnel, health, facility |
