Healthcare-Associated Infections: Experiences and Perceptions of Nurses at the Ziniaré District Hospital in Burkina Faso

Introduction: Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are a worldwide concern because of their magnitude and their human and financial cost. While nurses’ non-compliance of hygiene and asepsis measures is questioned, the rationale behind it is not fully understood. We hypothesized that nurses’ experiences and perceptions are one of the reasons for their non-compliance with prevention recommendations. Also, nurses’ caring approach would play an important role in patient safety. The objective of this study was to describe nurses’ experiences and perceptions of HAIs in a district hospital in Burkina Faso with the aim of developing a culture of safety in health care practices. Methods: Qualitative data were collected through unstructured interviews with twenty nurses from the Ziniaré district hospital. Data analysis followed the qualitative phenomenological method according to Giorgi. Results: Phenomenological analysis yielded the following themes: “an ignored reality”; “a denied responsibility”; and “a vulnerable problem”. These results show that nurses’ perception of the extent and seriousness of HAIs is low, and that they deny responsibility for their occurrence. As a result, HAIs are not always perceived as a concern. However, nurses deplore the situation, but remain optimistic about resolving the problem. Conclusion: These nurses’ perceptions of HAIs could explain their non-compliance with prevention recommendations. Corrective action could be redirected by raising awareness, continuing training, improving working conditions and involving all players, including patients and their families, in the fight against HAIs.