Evaluating infection prevention and control programs in Zambian hospitals using the WHO infection prevention and control assessment framework tool.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) is key to preventing healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and the spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This study evaluated the implementation of IPC in Zambian hospitals.

Materials and methods

We conducted a multicentric cross-sectional study in nine hospitals across Zambia using the WHO IPCAF tool. Data were collected from September 1 to 30, 2024 and analyzed using the self-scoring Excel and IBM SPSS version 25.0.

Results

Out of the nine hospitals assessed, four were tertiary-level hospitals while the rest were secondary-level hospitals. Overall, the implementation of IPC core components was intermediate (IPCAF Score of 594 out of 800). Four hospitals had IPCAF scores between 401 and 600, indicating an interm

SUBMITTER: Mudenda S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12425723 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature