Abstract
Background: Infection control has gained significant importance in public health, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the dental field, issues surrounding infection control predate the COVID-19 pandemic, as the profession is associated with a high risk of exposure to occupational injuries and occupational-acquired infections. In Zimbabwe, the scope of understanding concerning infection control perceptions, knowledge and practices was minimal owing to the lack of research in this field.
Aim: The study investigated the knowledge, perceptions and practice of infection prevention and control (IPC) measures among dental professionals in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.
Methods: The research study used a self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of close-ended questions, and individuals who met the inclusion criteria were admitted into the study voluntarily using a purposive sampling method. The questionnaire was completed anonymously on both hard copies and on an online platform. A total of 220 dental professionals took part in the study. The collected data were analysed using SPSS 28. Descriptive analysis assessed the socio-demographic and work characteristics of the study population. In addition, inferential analysis was used to test for associations between variables of interest.
Results: The study's findings revealed that the perceived main barriers to good infection control were lack of resources for disinfection and sterilisation. In addition, there was a high level of infection control knowledge among the participants and sound practices of infection control. A significant, weak negative correlation between IPC perceptions composite construct and IPC knowledge composite construct [r (217) = -0.37, p< 0.05]. In addition, the results of the multiple regression analysis revealed type of dental practice, type of dental profession, and years in practice were significant predictors of IPC practices composite construct F (6,212) =6.06, p<.001 with R2 =0.146.
Conclusion: This study provided valuable preliminary insights into the knowledge, perceptions, and practice of IPC measures among dental professionals in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. These findings may be useful in guiding future research in IPC and have implications for improving infection control practices in dental settings, as well as contributing to the overall enhancement of dental personnel and patient safety and quality of care.