Healthcare Workers' Perspectives on Infection Control Practices: A Study From Mogadishu's Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital

Nosocomial infections pose a significant challenge in healthcare settings worldwide, particularly in resource-limited countries, such as Somalia. This study assessed the awareness, attitudes, and practices of healthcare workers regarding nosocomial infection control in a tertiary care teaching hospital in Mogadishu, Somalia. This cross-sectional study was conducted using a structured questionnaire distributed to 83 healthcare professionals, including nurses, doctors, and lab technicians. The majority of participants (58%) were male, and 78% were under 35 years old. The findings revealed a high level of awareness about the modes of transmission and the role of contaminated medical equipment and environmental surfaces in the spread of nosocomial infections. However, attitudes on the way to infection control practices varied, with 85.5% acknowledging the seriousness of the problem, while only 72.3% regularly used personal protective equipment. Notably, 79.5% of respondents received training on infection prevention, and 80.7% recognized the risks associated with neglecting control measures. Poor hand hygiene was identified as a major cause of hospital-acquired infections in 71% of participants. This study highlights the need for targeted interventions to address gaps in infection control practices, such as improving hand hygiene compliance, ensuring consistent use of personal protective equipment, and providing ongoing training and support for healthcare workers. These findings underscore the importance of strengthening institutional policies and resources to promote a culture of infection prevention and control in Somali healthcare facilities. Further research is needed to explore the barriers to and facilitators of implementing effective infection control strategies in resource-constrained settings.