Assessment of Laboratory Equipment Maintenance Practice and Associated Challenges in selected public Hospitals Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Date
2023-01
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Background: Laboratory equipment maintenance practices are one of the key interventions to
minimize equipment down time and service interruptions in public hospital. This study focused
on the strategies of laboratory equipment maintenance practices for improving maintenance of
laboratories equipment at public hospitals in Addis Ababa for effective service delivery.
Objective: This study aimed to assess laboratory equipment maintenance practice and associated
challenges in selected public hospitals present in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Methods: A descriptive cross sectional survey supported with qualitative data collection
methods were conducted at 12 public hospitals in Addis Ababa from May 2021 to July 2021. A
convenient sampling technique was used for the quantitative part and Criterion based purposive
sampling technique was followed to select participants for the qualitative data collections. A pre-
tested structured self-administered questionnaire was used to collect the quantitative data and
semi structured in-depth interview guides and check lists were used to collect the qualitative
data. The questionnaire was returned and the data was analyzed by using SPSS Version 20
software and the result was presented in tables, figures and graphs.
Result: A total of 48 respondents, 24 respondents from the quantitative and 24 respondents from
the qualitative part were participated from 12 public health hospitals found in Addis Ababa, The
findings showed that 95.8% equipment preventive maintenance practices takes place in their
departments however, the practice of corrective maintenance was found to be 42.7%. Lack of
spare parts and lack of trained biomedical engineers were the major laboratory equipment
maintenance challenge which accounts about 29.2 % and 25% respectively. Age of the machine,
work load and carelessness of the worker which is 45.8%, 33.3% and 12.5%, respectively were
the major laboratory equipment failures among public hospital in Addis Ababa.
Conclusion: The study shows that preventive maintenance practices take place for laboratory
equipment among public hospitals in Addis Ababa. The study also showed that corrective
maintenance practices were not carried out for most of the equipment’s and the majority of
laboratory equipment was out of service due to lack of spare parts and lack of well-trained
biomedical engineer. Age of the machine and work load were also the major laboratory
equipment failures. Therefore availing spare parts and arranging training for biomedical
engineers to improve the technical skill with continuous training is recommended
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Keywords
Maintenance challenges, preventive and corrective maintenance practice.