Compliance with standard precaution protocols among healthcare workers at the Cape Coast Metropolitan Hospital, Ghana

Background: Healthcare workers (HCWs), particularly those in developing countries, including Ghana, face significant hurdles in complying with standard precaution (SP) protocols in their line of duty, thereby increasing their risk of vulnerability to blood-related pathogens. Objective: We investigated SP compliance in Ghana with the view of enhancing the practice of occupational safety and health standards. Methods: We examined 105 HCWs at the Cape Coast Metropolitan Hospital on awareness of SP and compliance with SP using a structured questionnaire. Results: Awareness of SP measures was adequate. Accessibility to SP resources always was 17.1%. Compliance with SP guidelines was insufficient, as less than three-quarters of HCWs were compliant. Only 59.0% and 55.2% of HCWs washed their hands always between patient contacts and after touching their surroundings, respectively. Using Chi-square test and at a significance level of P < 0.05, prior SP training was shown to be significantly related to healthcare personnel’ compliance with SP protocols ( χ 2 = 4.363, P = 0.037). Based on logistic regression analysis and at a significance level of P < 0.05, when adjusted, workers with 5 or more years working experience are 8.5 times more likely to be compliant with SP protocols compared with those with < 2-year working experience (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 8.549, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.028–71.077, P = 0.047). Those in the operating theater ward, if unadjusted, are 12 times more likely to be compliant with SP protocols than those in the surgical recovery ward (correlation OR = 12.000, 95% CI: 1.019–141.336, P = 0.048). Conclusion: To improve healthcare delivery standards, particularly compliance to SP protocols, hospital management should ensure continuation of frequent in-service training in infection prevention and control and more SP resources must be provided.