Exploring nurse educators' experiences and perceptions of healthcare-associated infection prevention and control in two countries of sub-Saharan Africa: An exploratory qualitative study

Aim: To explore the experiences and perceptions of nurse educators about prevention and control of healthcare-associated infections in two countries of Sub-Saharan Africa. 

Design: Qualitative descriptive study. Methods: A multimodal approach was employed to investigate the reality of hospital-associated infections. In-depth interviews were conducted with educators (n = 24) to gain comprehensive insights, and 14 focus group discussions were facilitated with academic and clinical educators (n = 96). Collected data was analysed using the content analysis method. 

Results: It was identified one major category, “Education about Infection Prevention and Control,” with five categories and twelve subcategories. Key findings highlighted pedagogical challenges in nursing education stemming from the imbalance between theory and practice, coupled with insufficient hours dedicated to infection control training. Participants noted gaps in the collaboration between lecturers and clinical instructors, as well as a lack of equipment in all the learning contexts, hindering the HAI protocols and limiting the effectiveness of infection prevention and control measures in both SSA countries. 

Conclusion: Addressing the identified pedagogical challenges, enhancing collaboration between nursing educators, providing adequate equipment, and developing a contextually adapted model for infection prevention is essential for improving education and practices in both countries of Sub-Saharan Africa.