français Influence of preventive maintenance of hospital equipment on the quality of care at the Bassila District Hospital in Benin in 2025

Abstract

Preventive maintenance of medical equipment is a key determinant of hospital performance and healthcare quality. In developing countries, its implementation remains limited due to technical, organizational, and financial constraints. This study aimed to assess the influence of preventive maintenance of hospital equipment on the quality of care provided at Bassila Zone Hospital in Benin. A mixed-method analytical study was conducted among 74 healthcare professionals and complemented by semi-structured interviews with administrative, technical, and maintenance staff. Quantitative data were collected through questionnaires and analyzed using SPSS version 20, while qualitative data were subjected to thematic content analysis. The findings revealed that 74.3% of healthcare workers reported that equipment failures negatively affected continuity of care, while 93.2% considered equipment functionality to be directly related to healthcare quality. Although 77% of respondents perceived equipment failures as infrequent and 64.9% reported maintenance interventions within four hours, corrective maintenance remained predominant in several departments (47.3%). Furthermore, 85.1% of respondents believed that improving preventive maintenance would significantly enhance healthcare quality. The overall quality-of-care score was 71.06%, corresponding to a good level of quality. Statistical analyses demonstrated a highly significant association between preventive maintenance effectiveness and quality of care (p < 0.001). The study concludes that strengthening preventive maintenance practices contributes to reducing equipment failures, improving equipment availability, ensuring continuity of care, and increasing patient satisfaction. It recommends strengthening technical capacities, allocating adequate financial resources, and rigorously implementing preventive maintenance plans.