title: Tuberculosis infection control measures in health care facilities offering tb services in Ikeja local government area, Lagos, South West, Nigeria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Tuberculosis infection among health care workers is capable of worsening the existing health human resource problems of low--and middle-income countries. Tuberculosis infection control is often weakly implemented in these parts of the world therefore, understanding the reasons for poor implementation of tuberculosis infection control guidelines are important. This study was aimed at assessing tuberculosis infection control practices and barriers to its implementation in Ikeja, Nigeria.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study in 20 tuberculosis care facilities (16 public and 4 private) in Ikeja, Lagos was conducted. The study included a facility survey to assess the availability of tuberculosis infection control guidelines, the adequacy of facilities to prevent transmission of tuberculosis and observations of practices to assess the implementation of tuberculosis infection control guidelines. Four focus group discussions were carried out to highlight HCWs' perceptions on tuberculosis infection control guidelines and barriers to its implementation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The observational study showed that none of the clinics had a tuberculosis infection control plan. No clinic was consistently screening patients for cough. Twelve facilities (60%) consistently provided masks to patients who were coughing. Ventilation in the waiting areas was assessed to be adequate in 60% of the clinics while four clinics (20%) possessed N-95 respirators. Findings from the focus group discussions showed weak managerial support, poor funding, under-staffing, lack of space and not wanting to be seen as stigmatizing against tuberculosis patients as barriers that hindered the implementation of TB infection control measures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tuberculosis infection control measures were not adequately implemented in health facilities in Ikeja, Nigeria. A multi-pronged approach is required to address the identified barriers to the implementation of tuberculosis infection control guidelines.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health and Primary Health Care, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, Nigeria. yetundekuyinu@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Y A
authors.initials: YA
authors.lastname: Kuyinu
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health and Primary Health Care, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, Nigeria.
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Mohammed
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, Nigeria.
authors.forename: O O
authors.initials: OO
authors.lastname: Adeyeye
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health and Primary Health Care, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, Nigeria.
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Odugbemi
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health and Primary Health Care, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, Nigeria.
authors.forename: O O
authors.initials: OO
authors.lastname: Goodman
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health and Primary Health Care, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, Nigeria.
authors.forename: O O
authors.initials: OO
authors.lastname: Odusanya
mesh_terms: D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006268:Health Facilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control; D009111:Local Government; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*
keywords: Barriers; Health care workers; Health facilities; TB infection control