Assessing Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Infection Prevention/control and Their Determinents Among Student Nurses on Clinicl Practicum in Ashanti Region, Ghana

Background: Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) remain a major global challenge, particularly in resource-limited settings. Effective infection prevention and control (IPC) relies on healthcare workers’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP). This study assessed KAP regarding IPC among student nurses in the Ashanti Region, Ghana. Methods A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 964 student nurses from health institutions across Ashanti region, Ghana. Data were collected using a structured, pretested questionnaire covering demographics and KAP domains. Descriptive statistics summarized variables, and Spearman's ranked examined associations between sociodemographic factors and KAP scores. Results Overall, 88.9% of participants demonstrated good knowledge, 97.6% exhibited positive attitudes, and 91.9% reported good practices regarding IPC. Knowledge was associated with levels in school (F [5, 958] = 3.39, p = .005), explaining 1.7% of the variance, while attitude was associated with practice was associated with gender (p = 0.031), and year of study (p = 0.001). Attitudes did not significantly differ by demographic characteristics. Attitude was associated with previous work experience and higher academic levels. Knowledge was associated with high level in school only and practice was associated with age, school level and gender. Conclusions Student nurses in Ashanti Region generally possess good IPC knowledge and practices, although attitudes toward IPC remain suboptimal. Strengthening attitude-oriented interventions alongside continuous training may further enhance IPC adherence.