Adherence of healthcare personnel to infection prevention and control program in maternal and child hospitals in Sana’a City, Yemen, cross-sectional study

Infection prevention and control (IPC) is essential in maternal and child healthcare settings to reduce healthcare-associated infections. Evidence on IPC program implementation, staff knowledge, and adherence in Yemeni hospitals remains limited. This study aimed to evaluate IPC program implementation, assess healthcare personnel knowledge and adherence, and explore factors associated with IPC adherence in public and private maternal and child hospitals in Sana’a City. A cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2024 to May 2025 in one public and one private maternal and child hospital in Sana’a. IPC program implementation was assessed using the WHO Assessment Tool on IPC Minimum Requirements for Tertiary Health Care Facilities. Performance was categorized as advanced (≥ 76%), intermediate (51–75%), basic (26–50%), and inadequate (≤ 25%). Healthcare personnel knowledge (37 items) and adherence (15 items) were assessed using structured questionnaires, with scores expressed as percentages of the maximum possible and classified as poor (< 60%), moderate (60–79%), or good (≥ 80%). Differences between hospitals were assessed using t-tests and chi-square tests. Univariable and multivariable linear regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with IPC adherence. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05 with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Seventy-one healthcare personnel participated (66% public, 34% private; median age 30 years; 59% female). Overall IPC adherence was higher in the private hospital than in the public hospital (75.4% vs. 70.6%; p = 0.003). The public hospital had an advanced IPC program (80.0%), while the private hospital was intermediate (68.9%). Knowledge levels were moderate in both hospitals (public: 75.5%, private: 77.9%). In multivariable analysis, healthcare personnel with higher PPE knowledge, medical specialists, and those working in private hospitals had higher adherence scores. IPC adherence in maternal and child tertiary hospitals in Sana’a is influenced by individual knowledge and institutional and professional factors. Strengthening PPE-related knowledge and addressing institutional differences between public and private hospitals may improve IPC adherence and reduce infection risks.