Background Inadequate water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in health facilities and the low adherence to infection control protocols can increase the risk of hospital-acquired (nosocomial) infections, which in turn can increase morbidity and mortality, health care cost, but also contribute to increased microbial resistance. Objectives The study aimed to assess WASH facilities and practices, and levels of nosocomial pathogens in surface and water samples collected from selected health facilities in Oromia Region and Southern, Nations and Nationalities and Peoples Region (SNNPR). Methods WASH in health care facilities in Bulle and Doyogena (SNNPR) and Bidre (Oromia) were assessed through interviews and direct observations (n= 26 facilities). Water and surface samples were collected from major hospitals and health centers. A total of 90 surface swabs and 14 water samples were collected from which a number of bacteria (n=224) were identified, characterized and tested for antimicrobial susceptibility. Results Water supply, toilet facilities, and waste management procedures were suboptimal. Only 11/26 of the health facilities had access to water at the time of the survey. The lowest hand-hygiene compliance was for Bidre (4%), followed by Doyogena (14%), and Bulle (36%). Over 70% of the identified bacteria were from four categories: Staphylococcus spp, Bacillus spp, E. coli, and Klebsiella spp. These bacteria were also found in high risk locations including neonatal intensive care units, delivery and surgical rooms. Antimicrobial susceptibility was detected in ≥ 50% of the isolates for penicillin, cefazolin, ampicillin, oxacillin, and cotrimoxazole, and ≥ 50% of the isolates displayed multi-drug resistance. Conclusion Investing in WASH infrastructures, promotion of handwashing practices, implementing infection prevention and control (IPC) measures and antibiotic stewardship is critical to ensure quality care in these settings.
The purpose of this study is to evaluate Iraq’s health facility preparedness for the surge of hospitalised cases associated with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. In this article, we review pandemic preparedness at both general and tertiary hospitals throughout all districts of Iraq. COVID-19 pandemic preparedness, for the purpose of this review, is defined as: (1) staff to patient ratio, (2) personal protective equipment (PPE) to staff ratio, (3) infection control measures training and compliance and (4) laboratory and surveillance capacity. Despite the designation of facilities as COVID-19 referral hospitals, we did not find any increased preparedness with regard to staffing and PPE allocation. COVID-19 designated hospital reported an increased mean number of respiratory therapists as well as sufficient intensive care unit staff, but this did not reach significant levels. Non-COVID-19 facilities tended to have higher mean numbers of registered nurses, cleaning staff and laboratory staff, whereas the COVID-19 facilities were allocated additional N-95 masks (554.54 vs 147.76), gowns (226.72 vs 104.14) and boot coverings (170.48 vs 86.8) per 10 staff, but none of these differences were statistically significant. Though COVID-19 facilities were able to make increased requisitions for PPE supplies, all facility types reported unfulfilled requisitions, which is more likely a reflection of global storage rather than Iraq’s preparedness for the pandemic. Incorporating future pandemic preparedness into health system strengthening efforts across facilities, including supplies, staffing and training acquisition, retention and training, are critical to Iraq’s future success in mitigating the ongoing impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
ObjectivesThe objective of this study was to assess the resilience of health services in four governorates affected by conflict from 2014-2018, and to convey recommendations.MethodsHealth managers from Al Anbar, Ninawa, Salah-al-din, and Kirkuk governorates assessed resilience factors of Primary Health Care services affected by the 2014-2017 ISIS insurgency. Additional information was gathered from key informants and a health facility Unicef survey. Three specific aspects were examined: 1) meeting health needs in the immediate crisis response, 2) adaptation of services, 3) restructuring and recovery measures. Data from and MoH/UNICEF national health facility survey were 2017-2019 analyzed for functionality.FindingsThere were many common themes across the four governorates, with local variations.1. Absorption. The shock to the public sector health services by the invasion by ISIS caught the in the four governorates unprepared, with limited abilities to continue to provide services. Pharmacies and private clinics sometimes withstood the initial shock better. 2. Adaptation. After the initial shock, many health facilities adapted by focused on urgent needs for injury and communicable disease care. In most locations, maternal, neonatal, and child health (MNCH) preventive and promotive services stopped. Ill persons would sometimes consult health workers in their houses at night for security reasons. 3. Restructuring or transformative activities. In most areas, health services restructuring was continuing in 2020. Some heavily damaged facilities are still functioning below pre-crisis level, with reduced service availability. Rebuilding lost community trust in the public sector is proving difficult, though in some communities, trust remained strong.ConclusionHealth services generally had little preparation and limited resilience to the ISIS influx. Governorates are, in places, still restructuring services after the liberation from ISIS in 2017. Disaster planning was identified by all participants as a missing component, as managers anticipated future emergencies.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.