Abstract

Background: Delivery room is one of the most dangerous clinical settings. The healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) have a high incidence rate and pose a threat due to the simultaneous susceptibility of both the parturient mother and the new born.
Objective: This research was an attempt to determine the practice of health personnel in relation to delivering room environmental precautions in four Middle Euphrates teaching hospitals (Al-Najaf, Karbala, Babylon, and Diwaniyah) in Iraq and to determine substantial differences in the quality of practice in these governorates.
Method: Methods A cross-sectional study, which was descriptive in nature, was undertaken using a purposive sample. The sample size was 124 health workers in the four hospitals of the study that have delivery rooms. Data were observed with the help of a structured observation checklist with 11 environmental hygiene items scaled out of three points (1=Poor, 2=Fair, 3=Good).
Findings: Environmental practices were found to be poor in Al-Najaf (M.S = 1.636) and moderate at Babylon M.S human of environmental practices was unsatisfactory at Al-Najaf (M.S = 1.636) and satisfactory at Babylon (M.S = 1.931), Diwaniyah (M.S = 1.913), and Karbala (M.S = 2.194). The shortages were consistently observed in the cleanliness of waste receptacles, the hygiene of dispensers, and the hygiene of pillow covers. in several governorates. The score of four governorates in terms of environmental practice (F = 147.929, p = 0.001).
Conclusions: The study conclude the need to have standardized regional protocols, routine auditing programs and delivery room specific in-service training programs personnel.