Infection prevention and control practices, policy adherence and knowledge of healthcare workers at COVID-19 treatment centres in Nigeria.

Background: Infection prevention and control (IPC) practices are crucial for protecting patients and healthcare workers (HCWs), especially during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. This crisis has underscored the importance of IPC strategies in understanding health system readiness and strengthening preparedness for future pandemics. Objective: This study investigated healthcare personnel's IPC knowledge, adherence to safety policies, and implementation of IPC procedures in COVID-19 treatment centres across Nigeria. Methods: A cross-sectional, multicentre study was conducted among 113 respondents, that is, 57 HCWs and 56 volunteers, from 23 June 2020 to 15 March 2021. An electronic questionnaire adapted from validated instruments was used. Results: Out of 113 respondents, 69 (61%) demonstrated good IPC practices, with high adherence (n = 105, 92.9%) to face mask usage and hand hygiene. Only 50 (44.2%) reported receiving basic training on IPC. Although personal protective equipment (PPE) was available, 25% did not consistently wear full PPE when attending to COVID-19 patients. Most HCWs (105; 93%) opposed testing patients without consent, and 100 (88.5%) affirmed the availability of standardised IPC protocols. No significant association was observed between age, gender, years of experience, and IPC compliance (p-values: 0.097, 0.287, and 0.699). Interestingly, 33 (29.2%) HCWs with less than 10 years of experience exhibited better IPC practices. Facility policies such as confidentiality and non-discrimination were mostly upheld, with 90 (79.6%) participants agreeing that discriminatory practices should have consequences. Conclusion: While face mask use and hand hygiene compliance were high, gaps remained in IPC training and consistent use of full PPE. Strengthening training, IPC knowledge, policy standardisation, and resource equity is important for stronger IPC compliance during health emergencies. What this study adds: The study identified key factors supporting future pandemic preparedness by examining the control and preventive strategies implemented at various CTCs in Nigeria. It also emphasised the need for standardised policies, which are essential for building resilient healthcare systems during public health crises.