Utilization of Personal Protective Equipment and Its Determinants Among Health Care Professionals in Public Hospitals in Resource-Limited Settings

Background Personal Protective Equipment protects healthcare workers from harmful exposures, reducing the risk of illness and injury. However, adherence to its proper use is often low, increasing infection risks and lowering care quality. Consistent use of personal protective equipment (PPE) is essential for safeguarding both healthcare workers and patients. Objective To assess utilization of personal protective equipment and its determinants among health care professionals in public hospitals in resource-limited settings, 2025. Methods A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 422 health professionals selected by simple random sampling from four public hospitals. Data were collected using a pretested self-administered questionnaire. After data cleaning and entry into EpiData 3.1, analysis was performed using SPSS version 27. Descriptive statistics were presented using tables and figures. Binary and multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify factors associated with PPE utilization, with statistical significance declared at p < .05. Result A total of 416 respondents participated in the study, yielding a response rate of 98.6%, and the magnitude of personal protective equipment utilization was 51.7%, 95% CI 46.4%, 55.8%. Higher PPE utilization was significantly associated with monthly income, working hours, knowledge, and attitude toward PPE. Participants earning more than 10,000 ETB (AOR = 2.31; 95% CI: 1.31, 4.10), those working 40 hours or less per week (AOR = 0.53; 95% CI: 0.29, 0.96), respondents with good knowledge (AOR = 1.88; 95% CI: 1.30, 2.72), and those with a positive attitude (AOR = 1.70; 95% CI: 1.13, 2.58) had higher odds of utilizing PPE at a P-value < .05. Conclusion Only about half of the health professionals regularly used personal protective equipment, indicating a considerable gap in adherence to safety practices. Higher income, reasonable working hours, good knowledge, and a positive attitude were key factors that enhanced utilization. Therefore, healthcare institutions and stakeholders should strengthen continuous training, ensure adequate availability of PPE, and promote supportive working conditions to encourage consistent utilization.