Health Prevention Practices In Nigeria: An Empirical Analysis of Nurses' Compliance with Healthcare Associated Infections Control in Public Healthcare Facilities

Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) control remains a critical public health challenge, contributing significantly to patient morbidity, mortality, and increased healthcare costs in Nigeria. This study examined nurses’ compliance with infection prevention and control measures in public healthcare facilities across Southwest Nigeria. A cross-sectional survey design was employed, targeting a population of 180,709 registered nurses and 126,863 midwife nurses. A total of 344 nurses were selected through stratified and quota sampling techniques to ensure representativeness. Data were collected using a structured, self-administered questionnaire validated through expert review and psychometric testing. The Kaiser–Meyer–Olkin (KMO) value of 0.912 and Bartlett’s Test of Sphericity (χ² = 2820.76, p < 0.001) confirmed the dataset’s suitability for factor analysis. Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) revealed two underlying constructs—Prevention Strategies (TPPQ) and HAI Practices (HAIPsQ), with strong factor loadings (>0.5). Cronbach’s alpha coefficients of 0.755 and 0.933 indicated acceptable to excellent internal reliability, confirming the robustness of the instrument. Descriptive and inferential analyses, including correlation, regression, and ANOVA, were conducted to explore relationships between prevention strategies and HAI outcomes. Results revealed a significant negative correlation (r = –0.382, p < 0.001), indicating that increased adherence to prevention practices reduced HAI incidence among nurses. Regression analysis further confirmed prevention strategies as a significant predictor of lower HAI outcomes (β = –0.062, p < 0.001). In conclusion, the study found that while nurses demonstrated strong awareness and positive attitudes toward HAI prevention, gaps persist in consistent practice adherence. Strengthening continuous professional training, supervision, and institutional compliance monitoring is therefore essential to enhance infection prevention outcomes in Nigerian public healthcare facilities.