Health Personnel Practices Regarding Environmental Precautions in the Delivery Room

vAims: The delivery room is one of the most dangerous clinical settings. Healthcare-associated infections occur frequently and pose a threat because both the parturient mother and the newborn are simultaneously susceptible. This study aimed to assess health personnel’s practices regarding environmental precautions in delivery rooms at four Middle Euphrates teaching hospitals in Iraq (Al-Najaf, Karbala, Babylon, and Diwaniyah) and to determine whether practice quality differed substantially among these governorates.Instrument & Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study used a purposive sample of ۱۲۴ health workers from the four hospitals, all of which had delivery rooms. Data were collected using a structured observation checklist comprising ۱۱ environmental hygiene items, each rated on a three-point scale (۱=poor, ۲=fair, ۳=good). Findings: Environmental practices were rated poor in Al-Najaf (mean=۱.۶۳۶±۰.۰۰۱) and moderate in Babylon. Overall, environmental practices were classified as unsatisfactory in Al-Najaf (mean=۱.۶۳۶±۰.۰۰۱) and satisfactory in Babylon (mean=۱.۹۳۱±۰.۱۴۰), Diwaniyah (mean=۱.۹۱۳±۰.۰۱۸), and Karbala (mean=۲.۱۹۴±۰.۱۱۸). Shortcomings were consistently observed in the cleanliness of waste receptacles, the hygiene of dispensers, and the hygiene of pillow covers in several governorates. Environmental practice scores differed across the four governorates (F=۱۴۷.۹۲۹; p=۰.۰۰۱).Conclusion: Environmental precaution practices in delivery rooms are below the desired level and differ highly across governorates.

کلیدواژه ها:

Health Personnel ، Delivery Rooms ، Environmental health ، Infection control ، Medical Waste Disposal