predictors of hand hygiene adherence: a cross-sectional study of nurses in babylon, iraq

Background: hand hygiene is the most effective method for preventing infections, and nurses’ adherence to hygiene practices plays a vital role in patient safety. objectives: this study aimed to assess hand hygiene adherence and its related factors among nurses in hospitals in babylon city, iraq, in 2025.methods: a cross-sectional study was conducted with 150 nurses working in teaching hospitals in babylon. convenience sampling was used, and data were collected using a demographic form, a self-report questionnaire based on the who’s “my five moments for hand hygiene,” and a perceived factors questionnaire. data were analyzed using spss v.23 through independent t-test, mann-whitney u, kruskal-wallis, and logistic regression tests, with significance set at p < 0.05.results: the mean age of nurses was 27.91 (sd=4.4) years, and most were female (82.7%). over half had attended infection control (53.3%) and hand hygiene training (59.3%) courses. about 51.3% had a moderate level of knowledge about infection control. adherence to hand hygiene varied by situation, being highest after exposure to body fluids (90.7%) and after patient contact (86.7%), and lowest before patient contact (66.7%).conclusion: hand hygiene adherence was lower in preventive moments, with physical and organizational barriers identified as key challenges. comprehensive interventions—reducing workload, ensuring access to skin-compatible antiseptics, and providing targeted education—are essential to enhance preventive behavior, improve compliance, and promote patient safety.