Evaluation of hand hygiene belief and practice among healthcare workers at tertiary hospital, mogadishu, somalia: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Abstract Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) pose a significant challenge in resource-limited settings, such as Somalia, where hand hygiene is recognized as a primary preventive measure. This study assessed hand hygiene beliefs and practices among healthcare workers (HCWs) at a tertiary hospital in Mogadishu, Somalia. A cross-sectional study was conducted from April to June 2024 involving 304 randomly selected HCWs at the Mogadishu Somali-Turkiye Recep Tayyip Erdogan Training and Research Hospital. Data was collected using the Hand Hygiene Beliefs Scale (HHBS) and Hand Hygiene Practices Inventory (HHPI). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and a Generalized Linear Model (GLM) to identify significant factors associated with belief and practice scores, with significance set at . The findings revealed a strong belief in hand hygiene but only moderate adherence to practices. The multivariable GLM analysis indicated that for hand hygiene beliefs, holding a Master’s degree degree  $$(\beta=-0.257,p=0.041)$$ and having 10–15 years of experience  $$(\beta=-0.391, p=0.001)$$  were significantly associated with lower practice scores. A significant discrepancy exists between hand hygiene beliefs and practices, influenced heavily by educational level, profession, and years of experience. Enhancing patient safety requires targeted, systemic interventions, such as peer-mentoring for nurses, refresher training for mid-career professionals, and specialized monitoring in high-risk departments to bridge the gap between belief and clinical application.