Purpose: This study aimed to assess the knowledge on Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and sexual practices among nursing trainees in Yendi Municipality, Northern Ghana. Methodology: The study was conducted in Northern Ghana, using a cross-sectional study design. The study recruited 265 students using a multistage sampling technique. A self-reported questionnaire was used for the data collection. Data were analyzed using Stata version 16 and p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Findings: Majority (54.0%) of the respondents were males (69.1%), below 25 years with a mean age of 23.5 ±2.4 years. Most students (33.2%) had their first sexual relationship before 20 years of age. Only 20.4% of the students reported having had STIs in the past six months. Nine out of ten (90.9%) respondents have heard of STIs. Among the respondents who had ever heard of STIs, majority (71.7%) heard about STIs in school, followed by the media (41.1%), friends (33.2%), and relatives (29.4%).  Majority (75.0%) of students had sufficient knowledge of STIs. The association between knowledge on STIs and program of study (X2=7.6, p=0.023), gender (X2=3.93, p=0.047), and age (X2=22.3, p=0.039) were statistically significant. The odds of sufficient knowledge of STIs for students pursuing Registered Mental Nursing (RMN) is 3 times that of those studying RNAC program (AOR=3.4, 95%CI=1.23 – 9.55, p-value=0.019). Respondents aged ≥25 years were 1.8 times more likely to have sufficient knowledge compared with those below 25 years (AOR=1.8, 95%CI=0.91 – 3.38, p=0.047).  Recommendation: There is the need for sensitizations and intensifying education since not all students were armed with the required information on STIs. Stakeholders including, the Ministry of Health, Ghana Health Service, Islamic Medical Association of Ghana (IMAGH), Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG) and Tutors of health training institutions ought to re-evaluate the current interventions, and protocols on STIs prevention. There is also the need to regulate media content on health by the National Media Commission and the Ministry of Health of Ghana and its affiliates to ensure the right information on STIs is channelled to listeners by qualified persons.

Background Knowledge of and compliance to infection prevention and control (IPC) guidelines are crucial to curbing hospital acquired infections (HAIs). Globally, about 7–10% of patients suffer HAIs. However, there is limited evidence on nurses’ knowledge and adherence to IPC guidelines. Therefore, this study assessed the knowledge and determinants of IPC compliance among nurses in Yendi Municipality, Northern Ghana. Methods We conducted a quantitative cross-sectional study among 209 nurses of the Yendi Municipal hospital, using an adapted questionnaire. We collected and analysed data using SPSS version 26. Socio-demographics, knowledge level and compliance to IPC guidelines were assessed using descriptive statistics. The minimum scores for knowledge and compliance were 0 each with maximum scores being 10 and 8 respectively. Using binary multivariate logistic regression, the determinants of IPC compliance were analysed and odds ratios reported at 95% confidence intervals. Results The nurses had high mean and standard deviation scores for knowledge (7.26 ± 1.4) and compliance to IPC guidelines (5.41 ± 1.5). Females (aOR: 0.33; 95%CI: 0.17–0.64; p = 0.001) were significantly less likely to comply to IPC guidelines. Nurses working in Maternity/Labour wards (aOR: 8.31; 95%CI: 2.46–28.15; p = 0.001) and Outpatient Department (OPD)/Psychiatry (aOR: 5.00; 95%CI: 1.42–17.62; p = 0.012) were associated with higher odds of complying to IPC guidelines. Availability of IPC guidelines (aOR: 3.48; 95%CI: 1.13–10.72; p = 0.030) in a working department influenced compliance to IPC measures. Conclusion The study revealed high knowledge and high compliance regarding IPC among nurses in the Yendi Municipal Hospital. A person’s working department and the availability of IPC guidelines were key determinants for high compliance to IPC measures. However, knowledge of IPC did not influence compliance to IPC guidelines. The Municipal and Regional Health directorates, should therefore ensure adequate logistic flow, provision of IPC guidelines and proper supervision to ensure maximum compliance with IPC guidelines, particularly among paediatric, medical and surgical wards nurses as well as degree holding nurses.

No abstract

Background: HIV/AIDS remains a modern-day global burden, killing almost 39 million people with over 36 million living with the disease, and two million new cases annually. The risk of infection in clinical practice among health workers has been noted to be high, compared to the general population. The study therefore seeks to determine the knowledge, attitude, and practice of HIV/AIDS prevention among nursing students along the north-eastern corridor of Ghana.Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive design with a quantitative approach was employed. Multistage stratified random sampling technique was used to select 373 trainee nurses. A Pearson’s chi-square analysis was performed at 0.20 precision level. Determinants of knowledge, attitude, and practice was established with a multivariate logistic regression at 95% confidence level.Results: Majority of participants had satisfactory knowledge (88.0%), good attitude (87.9%), and good practices (57.6%) towards HIV/AIDS prevention. Students in their final year of the study were 2.3 times more likely to demonstrate good attitudes towards HIV/AIDS prevention than first years (aOR: 2.28; CI: 1.10 – 4.72). Those with sufficient knowledge on HIV/AIDS were 3.5 times more likely to have good attitudes towards its prevention than those with insufficient knowledge levels (aOR: 3.46; 1.76 – 6.77). Conclusion: There are satisfactory knowledge, attitude, and practices among trainee nurses regarding HIV/AIDS prevention in the study setting. Increase access to knowledge regarding HIV/AIDS can improve attitudes towards its prevention. However, there is a need for appraisal of the clinical placement programs of trainee nurses to ensure improved practice. Further studies are needed to ascertain the role of knowledge and attitudes in enhancing practices on HIV/AIDS prevention.