Knowledge and practices of Hand Hygiene among Dental care Workers in Khartoum, Sudan: A cross-secional study

Objectives: To assess the knowledge and practices of hand hygiene among dental care workers at Khartoum Dental Teaching Hospital. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at Khartoum Dental Teaching Hospital in Sudan, involving 196 healthcare workers selected from a population of 362 through stratified sampling. Data were collected using validated questionnaires and observational checklists and analyzed with SPSS. Ethical approval was obtained, ensuring participant confidentiality. Results: Among the 196 participants, the majority were female (67.9%) and aged 25 to 30 years (61.7%), with most serving as house officers. A total of 77% reported using hand rub before patient contact, and 89.3% washed their hands after glove removal or blood exposure. While 91.8% recognized the effectiveness of handwashing with soap, only 39.3% identified patient germs as a primary source of infection. Overall, 59.2% demonstrated fair knowledge of hand hygiene, and 26% adhered to good practices. A significant correlation (p = 0.009) was observed between occupation and hand hygiene practices. Conclusion: Despite improvements in hand hygiene practices following training, knowledge gaps persist, particularly regarding infection sources. Female participants showed higher adherence, and specialists and house officers exhibited the best practices. To address these issues, visual aids, consistent supply monitoring, ongoing training, and regular compliance assessments are recommended.