Assessment of Nurses’ Knowledge and Practice of Infection Prevention and Control in General Hospitals in Kogi State, North Central Nigeria

Healthcare-associated infections represent a major patient safety concern in Nigerian public hospitals, where resource limitations and knowledge gaps among clinical staff compromise infection prevention and control standards. This study assesses the knowledge and practice of infection prevention and control among nurses in general hospitals in Kogi State. A cross-sectional descriptive design is applied to 255 nurses selected through stratified random sampling from four general hospitals across Lokoja, Okene, and Kabba. A structured questionnaire evaluates knowledge of standard precautions, hand hygiene compliance, sterilisation practices, sharps disposal, and use of personal protective equipment. Observation checklists are used to objectively assess practice compliance during routine care activities. SPSS is used for analysis, with associations examined through chi-square tests. Evidence from Nigeria's Federal Ministry of Health infection control audit reports indicates that hand hygiene compliance rates in public hospitals in North Central Nigeria are below 50 percent, contributing to preventable healthcare-associated infections. The study is framed using the World Health Organisation Guidelines on Core Components of Infection Prevention and Control. Findings will support Kogi State's Hospital Management Board in designing targeted in-service training, equipping wards with standard supplies, and strengthening infection control committees. Keywords: infection prevention and control, nurses, hospital, knowledge and practice, Kogi State.