Investigating the Relationship of Organizational Performance with Employment Status and Shift Work in Nurses at the Shahid Rahnemoun Hospital

Background: Performance evaluation in facilitating organizational effectiveness is considered an essential task of human resource management that depends on nurses’ employment status. Objectives: The present study aimed to investigate the relationship of organizational performance with employment status and shift work in nurses at the Shahid Rahnemoun Hospital, Yazd, Iran. Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was conducted in 2018. The sample consisted of 151 nurses who were included using census. The instrument was a standard questionnaire whose content validity was confirmed by three experts, and its reliability was approved by Cronbach’s alpha coefficient. Data analysis was performed using SPSS.22 software through independent t-test, one-way analysis of variance, and one-sample t-test. Results: Among the four components surveyed in the study, the highest and lowest means and standard deviations were related to “participation and cooperation” (4.35 ± 0.48) and “infection control and prevention” (4.21 ± 0.60), respectively. There was a significant relationship between total performance and the two dimensions of “care and treatment” and “participation and cooperation” with employment status (P < 0.05). Conclusions: The results showed that the type of employment of nurses would affect the organizational performance. In an organization where employees feel job security, they will be committed to that organization and perform their duties more competently, with more motivation and satisfaction.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on intimate partner violence in Sudan, Malawi and Kenya

The COVID-19 infection control and prevention measures have contributed to the increase in incidence of intimate partner violence (IPV) and negatively impacted access to health and legal systems. The purpose of this commentary is to highlight the legal context in relation to IPV, and impact of COVID-19 on IPV survivors and IPV prevention and response services in Kenya, Malawi, and Sudan. Whereas Kenya and Malawi have ratified the Convention on Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and have laws against IPV, Sudan has yet to ratify the convention and lacks laws against IPV. Survivors of IPV in Kenya, Malawi and Sudan have limited access to quality health care, legal and psychosocial support services due to COVID-19 infection control and prevention measures. The existence of laws in Kenya and Malawi, which have culminated into establishment of IPV services, allows a sizable portion of the population to access IPV services in the pandemic period albeit sub-optimal. The lack of laws in Sudan means that IPV services are hardly available and as such, a minimal proportion of the population can access services. Civil society’s push in Kenya has led to prioritisation of IPV services. Thus, a vibrant civil society, committed governments and favourable IPV laws, can lead to better IPV services during the COVID-19 pandemic period.

Sterilization of gowns: making the most of a scarce commodity during the COVID-19 pandemic

Baylor Clinic in Mbabane, Eswatini, convened a crisis meeting to tackle critical shortages of long-sleeved disposable gowns that resulted from COVID-19 pandemic constraints on available personal protective equipment (PPE). A strategy deemed safe, affordable and sustainable was adopted to autoclave and re-use gowns based on a risk-stratified approach. Key objectives were to ensure essential infection control and prevention (ICP) for medical doctors, nurses, and laboratory teams. Administrative, environmental and personal protective measures for ICP were enhanced through regular staff training. This strategy for gown re-use has been invaluable in motivating responsible stewardship and maximization of available gowns during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Analisis Program Pencegahan dan Pengendalian Infeksi dalam Pelaksanaan Surveilans Hai’s di Rumah Sakit Bhayangkara TK II Sartika Asih Bandung

Hospital is an institution engaged in health by optimizing health services in an effort to improve the degree of health for the community. This study focuses on the analysis of infection control and prevention programs in the implementation of HAI's surveillance, the aim is to see the main problems in hospital infections, namely referring to the hospital's ability to prevent or minimize the rate of increase in infection, The method used is descriptive qualitative research method, where research data are described in data collection through observation using phenomenological research methods. Data from observations are selected and then categorized from the most relevant data. After doing the research, the results obtained from this research are the PPI program regarding HAI's surveillance at Bhayangkara TK II Sartika Asih Hospital Bandung includes reporting of nosocomial infections such as Phlebitis, Decubitus, UTI (urinary tract infection), VAP (ventilator associated pneumonia) and IDO (operation area infection). And this hospital has reported HAI's surveillance incidents by the IPCN Committee.

Adherence to COVID-19 Mitigation Measures among Kilifi and Mombasa Residents - An Observational Study in Coastal Kenya

Aim: Corona Virus Disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic led countries into engaging public health guidelines as a strategy towards preventing infections. Hand washing, social distancing and masking remains key measures for infection control and prevention of the COVID-19. Strict adherence to public health infection control and prevention protocols is necessary to contain the spread at the community stage of the virus. National and County governments in Kenya directed efforts and resources in implementing numerous infection control and prevention measures in public places and institutions. The study assessed adherence to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) guidelines among the residents of Kilifi and Mombasa County in combating COVID-19 infections. Methodology: A cross sectional study was conducted between 25th November and 4th December 2020 in ten sub-counties in Mombasa and Kilifi counties, Kenya. Data was collected using Open Data Kit (ODK) mobile application. Results: Forty observations were done in Kilifi (45 percent) and Mombasa (55.0 percent). More than a third (37.5 percent) of the observations were done at the household level, followed by public buildings (30.0 percent), market/shopping centers (30.0 percent) and bus terminus (2.5 percent). More than half of the occupants in both Kilifi 55.6 percent and Mombasa 68.2 percent observed physical distancing of 1.5 meters, however, low screening of temperature at the entrance was noted. The general observation shows only 55.6 percent of the premises visited had a hand-washing station in Kilifi while 68.2 percent in Mombasa County. Most of the hand washing stations had running water and people did proper handwashing in both Counties. Only 30.0 percent of the hand station at Kilifi County had soaps. Conclusion: COVID – 19 will continue to pose serious public health challenges as many premises still don’t adhere to some of the guidelines. Multi-sectoral feasible approaches towards ensuring further adherence on all the public health guidelines should be given priority to control and prevent COVID-19 infection

Infected surfaces as a source of transmissible material in healthcare settings dealing with COVID 19 patients

The disease COVID-19 has turned out to be a tremendous slayer and has had some of the most devastating impacts on human beings ever seen in history. To overcome this major public health crisis, an understanding of the transmission of the virus underlying this disease is of paramount importance. Evidence suggests that the most common route of transmission for the SARS-CoV-2 virus is likely via direct contact in person-to-person encounter with aerosol droplets. However, the possibility of transmission via contact with fomites from surfaces is a possible route of infection as well. Environmental contamination in rooms with COVID-19 patient has been widely observed due to viral shedding from both asymptomatic and symptomatic patients. Also, in hospitals, SARS-CoV-2 is known to survive on various surfaces for extended periods of time. Because repetitive contact cycles can spread the virus from one surface to the other in healthcare settings, here we evaluated contamination on different types of surfaces commonly found in healthcare settings. Also, based on various datasets, we analyzed the importance of various surfaces in transmission modalities. Based on the findings of this study, decontamination of surfaces that frequently are in touch contact throughout all segments of the healthcare system should constitute an important part of the infection control and prevention of COVID-19. We also recommend the selection of a non-reactive disinfectant for hospital monitors, devices, ventilators and computers so that active surface disinfection can be effected without damage to the devices.