Intravenous fluid administration practice among nurses and midwives working in public hospitals of central Ethiopia: A cross-sectional study

Intravenous fluid administration is the most common invasive procedure widely practiced in hospital settings. Globally, approximately 25 million people receive intravenous fluid therapy. Different factors affect nurse's intravenous fluid administration practices; that it may influences on the patient's outcome, increase morbidity and mortality. Previous study indicates that healthcare providers especially in developing countries have skills gap related to intravenous fluid administration. The purpose of this study was aimed to assess the intravenous fluid administration practices and its associated factors among nurses and midwives working in public hospitals of West Shewa zone, Central Ethiopia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An institution-based cross-sectional study design was employed among 396 nurses and midwives in public hospitals in West Shewa zone, Central Ethiopia, from March 1 to 31, 2019. A Simple random sampling was used to select study participants using structured self-administered questionnaire, and observational checklist. The logistic regression model was used to identify association, and odds ratio was used to test the strength of the associations with outcome variable and predictor variables. RESULTS: In this study, 59.3% (95%CI = 54.7%–64.5%) participants was had inadequate intravenous fluid administration practice. Inadequate knowledge (AOR 2.1; CI 95% = 1.36–3.36), being untrained (AOR 1.7; 95% CI = 1.04–2.86), unavailability of supervision (AOR 1.8; CI 95% = 1.14–2.99), and absence of incentives and promotion for nurses and midwives (AOR 2.1; CI 95% = 1.19–3.62) were significantly associated with outcome variable. CONCLUSION: Nearly seven in ten participants in the study setting were inadequate intravenous fluid practice. Inadequate knowledge, training, and absence of supervision by senior staffs, and absence of incentives and promotion for nurses and midwives were the main factors affecting intravenous fluid administration practice. Refresher courses, supervision, incentives and promotions were needed to nurses and midwives for an improvement of the intravenous fluid administration practice.