Hand hygiene compliance among healthcare providers: a cross-sectional study of the University Teaching Hospital of Kigali

Background Hand hygiene (HH) is a critical, cost-effective measure to prevent healthcare-associated infections. Despite its importance, global compliance among healthcare providers remains low at 38.7%. Few studies in Rwanda have examined healthcare providers' knowledge, perception, and adherence, and factors influencing compliance remain underexplored. This study assessed healthcare providers' HH compliance at the University Teaching Hospital of Kigali (CHUK) and identified key influencing factors.Methods A cross-sectional study at the CHUK involved 254 healthcare providers selected via stratified sampling. Data were collected through direct observation using the World Health Organization HH observation form and a self-administered questionnaire. Correlation and linear regression analyses were conducted using SPSS version 25 to identify factors influencing compliance.Results Overall compliance was 53.84%. Compliance was significantly higher among doctors (59.89%) than among nurses (55.71%) and allied health professionals (38.42%) (P P P = 0.048), presence of facilities at the point of care (β = 17.855, P = 0.040), profession (nurses/midwives: β = 15.571, P P = 0.003), awareness of World Health Organization (WHO)-recommended HH moments (β = 8.332, P = 0.033), and receipt of training (β = 10.600, P = 0.034).Conclusion The 53.84% compliance highlights the need for improved HH at the CHUK. Facility availability and accessibility, awareness of WHO guidelines, and training significantly impact compliance. Enhancing these factors is crucial for boosting compliance and ensuring patient safety.