Adherence to Infection Prevention and Control Measures among Nursing Students at Rivers State University, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Infection prevention and control (IPC) is a global health priority, especially in low- and middle-income countries where healthcare-associated infections are common. Nursing students, as future healthcare providers, are frequently exposed to clinical settings and must adhere strictly to IPC measures to prevent infection transmission. Objective: This study assessed the level of adherence to IPC measures and examined factors influencing adherence among clinical nursing students at Rivers State University, Nigeria. Methods: A descriptive research design was used, involving all 222 clinical nursing students from 300 to 500 levels of study through census sampling techniques. Data were collected using an existing standard precaution scale with minor modification and a self-structured questionnaire with responses measured on a 4-Point Likert scale. Data were entered into Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25 and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: The study found a high overall adherence to IPC measures (Mean = 3.11 ± 1.04). Students regularly practiced hand hygiene, used gloves, and disposed of sharps properly. However, lapses were noted in recapping needles, reusing disposable PPE, and handwashing with water only. Influencing factors such as availability of materials, workload, supervision, and training were rated positively (Grand Mean = 2.89 ± 0.97). Despite this, no significant relationship was found between these factors and adherence level (r = 0.086, p = 0.202), suggesting other unmeasured factors may influence behavior. Conclusion: Clinical nursing students showed high adherence to IPC measures, though some unsafe practice persist. Moreover, the identified influencing factors did not significantly affect adherence levels. The weak correlation suggests unmeasured organizational and individual factors may significantly impact adherence patterns. Regular pre-clinical training and greater institutional support are recommended to strengthen compliance and safety in clinical practice.