Factors Influencing Compliance with Personal Protective Equipment Utilization among Nurses in Selected Government Hospitals in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Personal protective equipment (PPE) is a core component of standard precautions, yet its effectiveness depends on correct and consistent use as well as reliable institutional support. Nurses may face occupational exposure to blood and body fluids, including needlestick and sharps injuries. This study assessed factors associated with PPE compliance among nurses in selected government hospitals in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria, and described reported PPE-use practices and needlestick injuries.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted in Edo Specialist Hospital, Central Hospital, and Ogbe Nursing Home. The target population was 530 nurses. A proportional stratified sampling plan targeted 251 participants; 240 completed questionnaires were returned (response rate 95.6%). Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analysed with descriptive statistics and chi-square testing in SPSS version 28. The manuscript source reports a reliability coefficient of 0.78.

Results: Respondents reported relatively favourable individual-level perceptions, including belief in PPE protection (mean 3.29, SD 0.89), knowledge of guidelines (mean 3.17, SD 0.90), motivation (mean 3.17, SD 0.92), and prior training (mean 3.08, SD 0.95). In contrast, perceived availability of PPE (mean 2.23, SD 0.96), continuity of supply (mean 2.15, SD 0.94), supervisory monitoring (mean 2.21, SD 0.95), and regular training (mean 2.27, SD 0.94) were comparatively weak. Self-reported compliance items had a grand mean of 3.39 (SD 0.77); 203 respondents (84.6%) were classified as having high compliance and 37 (15.4%) low compliance. The source manuscript also reports that 80 respondents (33.3%) had experienced a needlestick injury; half of these reported one injury. Injection procedures and needle recapping were identified as common circumstances. However, the full cross-tabulation and test output needed to independently verify the reported inferential association were not included in the supplied results.

Conclusion: Self-reported PPE compliance was high overall, but respondents identified important institutional constraints involving supply reliability, supervision, policy enforcement, and workload. Interventions should combine uninterrupted access to appropriate PPE, regular practical training, supportive supervision, safer sharps systems, and accessible post-exposure pathways. The findings are cross-sectional and self-reported; they should not be interpreted as establishing causality.