Objective: The aim of this study was to assess hand hygiene (HH) facilities and to measure HH compliance during the COVID-19 pandemic among pediatric nurses in a single Nigerian federal university teaching hospital.
Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional study utilizing the WHO HH observational design. Compliance data were collected by a trained observer using the WHO “my five moments for HH” checklist, while HH facilities were assessed using the infection and control assessment form. The data were analysed using SPSS software version 26.0. A Chi-square test was employed to determine the compliance across units, shifts, and “my five moments for HH”.
Results: Most HH facilities in the study were non-functional and inadequate. The overall compliance rate was 38.1%, based on the 561 HH opportunities recorded. The compliance rate was similar across the unit and shift, but varied according to “my five moments for HH” (p<0.001). HH compliance was found to be decreased in the moments before the contact with childt (5.6%) and before an aseptic procedure (1.1%). Better compliance was observed after body fluid exposure (100%), after the contact with child (61.2%), and after the contact with the child’s environment (61.4%).
Conclusion: The study found inadequate HH facilities, possibly contributing to poor HH compliance. Local facilities need to be restructured to ensure adequate access to resources which would indirectly increase HH practice and compliance, especially in the pediatric settings where HH is very crucial.