Index Copernicus Value: 3.0 - Articles can be sent to editor@impactjournals.us IMPACT: Journal of Research in Applied, Natural and Social Sciences (IMPACT: JRANSS) ISSN(E): Applied; ISSN(P): Applied Vol. 1, Issue 1, Jun 2015, 15-26 © Impact Journals AN EVIDENCED-BASED STUDY: MEASURING THE EFFECT OF IMPLEMENTING AN INFECTION CONTROL PROGRAM ON HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS' COMPLIANCE TO INFECTION CONTROL MEASURES YOUSEF IBRAHIM ALJEESH & NASSER IBRAHIM ABU-EL-NOOR Associate Professor, College of Nursing, Islamic University of Gaza, Gaza Strip, Palestine ABSTRACT In Palestinian, 10% of deaths among children under the age of five are related to infections. Practice of infection prevention and control reduces the number of hospital-acquired infections. The purposes of this study were to explore health care team perceptions of causes of hospital-acquired infections and to develop, implement and measure the impact of infection prevention program in the ICU of a specialty pediatric hospital in Gaza Strip. A quasi experimental with pretest-posttest design was used. All nurses and physicians were included in this study. Five dimensions were measured and investigated pre and post-intervention. An infection control educational program was designed and implemented. After implementing the staff-developed program, the five dimensions were improved: using sharp box increased from 46.6% to 90%, doing gloves and scrubbing improved from 53.3% to 55%, frequency of hand washing increased from 47.2% to 79.3%, awareness of Palestinian protocol of infection prevention increased from 27.5 to 80% and positive swabs cultures decreased from 56% to 34.6%. The study recommends rebuilding an the infection control committee, motivating and encouraging work team to apply control infection measures through training and continuous education, providing the necessary medical supplies. These are besides continuous monitoring and follow up from the administration. KEYWORDS: Infection Control, Infection Control Standards, Hospital-Acquired Disease, Gaza, Palestine INTRODUCTION Children are a vulnerable group that needs more care and precaution during hospitalization than others. Their immune system is not well developed yet as that of the adults. Therefore, they are at higher risk to get infection than others. Many of pediatric morbidities and mortalities are due to infections and infectious diseases. In Palestine, about 10% of deaths among children under the age of five are related to infections and infectious diseases (Palestinian Health Information Center, 2011). Integrated health management of childhood aims to reduce children's mortality and morbidity and improve healthy growth and development. This requires a well-organized health care system with high quality of care at all levels, including providing good health services and healthy environment (World Health Organization, 2010c).