ENDOGENOUS DETERMINANTS OF SURGICAL SITE INFECTIONS AMONG PATIENTS ATTENDING HOSPITALS IN EKITI STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Surgical Site Infection (SSI) still remains substantial burden to patients attending hospitals in Ekiti State despite advancement in the field of surgery. This study investigated the endogenous determinants of surgical site infections in patients attending hospitals in Ekiti State, Nigeria. It adopted descriptive research survey to study a sample of 150 health workers consisting of surgical doctors, theatre nurses and surgical ward nurses of which 50 samples were used from each of the 3 groups of health workers. Stratified random sampling technique was used to divide the state into 3 strata following senatorial districts, simple random sampling to select one hospital per stratum and purposive sampling to select doctors, theatre nurses and surgical ward nurses. Determinants of Surgical Site Questionnaire (DSSIQ) was used for data collection after being validated by experts in medicine, test and measurement and health education, and was pre-tested for reliability yielding 0.89 index, while it was administered to the health workers, completed and collated with 100% returns. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics of percentage, mean and standard deviation and inferential statistics of linear and multiple regression. The results showed that patients’ underlying medical condition was a significant determinant of SSI (f value of 7.845 with p value of 0.000 < 0.05) and patient’s personal hygiene was also a significant determinant of SSI (f value of 30.319 with p value of 0.000 < 0.05). It was concluded that patients’ underlying medical condition is the most commonly observed cause of surgical site infection according to the finding of this study.It was recommended that efforts should be put in place by government, health agencies, community, family and individuals towards prevention of diseases that can complicate surgeries and cause SSI with emphasis on health education for patients.