Study of Knowledge and Practice of Infection Control Among Dental Therapists in Ogun State

Dental therapists provide the majority of primary dental care in Nigerian public facilities, and assessing their infection control knowledge and practice is essential for patient and healthcare worker safety in South West Nigeria. This study assessed infection control knowledge and self-reported practices among dental therapists working in primary and secondary healthcare facilities in Abeokuta, Sagamu, and Ijebu-Ode Local Government Areas, Ogun State. A cross-sectional survey of 80 dental therapists was conducted using a validated infection control questionnaire covering hand hygiene, personal protective equipment, instrument sterilisation, cross-contamination prevention, and waste disposal. Results showed adequate overall knowledge in 66.3 percent of respondents. Knowledge of hand hygiene procedures was highest (78.8 percent adequate), while waste segregation knowledge was lowest (42.5 percent adequate). Self-reported compliance with mandatory glove use was 93.8 percent, but face shield use was only 37.5 percent. Autoclave use for instrument sterilisation was practised by 71.3 percent; cold sterilisation with inadequate contact time was still used by 21.3 percent. Infection control training in the preceding two years had been received by 56.3 percent. Facilities with posted infection control protocols showed higher practice compliance. Recommendations include mandatory annual infection control refresher training, adequate supply of PPE and sterilisation consumables, posting of infection control standard operating procedures in all treatment rooms, and facility audits to verify compliance in Ogun State dental facilities.

Keywords: infection control, dental therapists, knowledge and practice, Ogun State, sterilisation