COVID-19 infection: Knowledge, attitude, practices, and impact among healthcare workers in a South-Eastern Nigerian state

Chioma Ngozichukwu Pauline Mbachu; Chimaobi Marie-Claire Azubuike; Ikechukwu Innocent Mbachu; Chizalu Ifeyinwa Ndukwu; Amaka Yves-Ann Ezeuko; Ifeoma Bridget Udigwe; Chioma Phyllis Nnamani; Uche Marian Umeh; Dorothy Amauche Ezeagwuna; Stanley Kenechi Onah; Henry Obinna Eze; Uzoma Chidi Okereke; Esther Nkiruka Orji-Ifeanyi

doi:10.3855/jidc.13248

COVID-19 infection: Knowledge, attitude, practices, and impact among healthcare workers in a South-Eastern Nigerian state

Authors

Chioma Ngozichukwu Pauline Mbachu Department of Paediatrics, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria
Chimaobi Marie-Claire Azubuike Department of Paediatrics, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, Nigeria
Ikechukwu Innocent Mbachu Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria
Chizalu Ifeyinwa Ndukwu Department of Paediatrics, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria
Amaka Yves-Ann Ezeuko Department of Pharmacy, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, Nigeria
Ifeoma Bridget Udigwe Department of Community Medicine, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Nigeria
Chioma Phyllis Nnamani Department of Family Medicine, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria
Uche Marian Umeh Department of Community Medicine, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital, Awka, Nigeria
Dorothy Amauche Ezeagwuna Department of Parasitology and Entomology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria
Stanley Kenechi Onah Department of Paediatrics, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria
Henry Obinna Eze Department of Orthopaedics, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, Nigeria
Uzoma Chidi Okereke Department of Community Medicine, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, Nigeria
Esther Nkiruka Orji-Ifeanyi Department of Nursing services, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, Nigeria

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.13248

Keywords:

knowledge, attitude, practice, healthcare workers, COVID-19, Nigeria

Abstract

Introduction: The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infection rate and mortality among Nigerian health care workers appear to be on the increase. This study determined the level of knowledge, attitude, practices, and impact of COVID-19 infection on healthcare workers (HCWs) working in a South-Eastern Nigerian state.

Methodology: This was a web-based, cross-sectional study conducted among healthcare workers in South-eastern, Nigeria during the lockdown period. Socio-demographic profile, knowledge of COVID-19, fears and impact concerning COVID-19, attitude of health workers to work, preventive practices during this pandemic period were obtained. Data were analysed using STATA 16.0. Chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests of association were used to determine the association between variables, with the significance level set at p < 0.05.

Results: A total of 403 health care workers participated in the study. Majority of participants (n = 357, 88.59%) had good knowledge and good preventive practices (n = 328, 81.39%) of COVID-19. A significant proportion of respondents had a poor attitude to work (n = 101, 25.06%) and an attitude of indifference (n = 233, 57.82%). Almost half (48.64%) of participants had been negatively affected by COVID-19. Knowledge significantly influenced practice (p = 0.029). Lack of Personal protective equipment, fear of dying and going to common places, had a significant impact on the attitude of workers.

Conclusion: Good knowledge which influenced practice, high use of preventive practices, with associated poor and indifferent attitude was noted among healthcare workers. Fear of death and lack of personal protective equipment had a strong impact on attitude. Female HCWs had poorer attitude to work than males.

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Published

2020-09-30

How to Cite

Mbachu CNP, Azubuike CM-C, Mbachu II, Ndukwu CI, Ezeuko AY-A, Udigwe IB, Nnamani CP, Umeh UM, Ezeagwuna DA, Onah SK, Eze HO, Okereke UC, Orji-Ifeanyi EN (2020) COVID-19 infection: Knowledge, attitude, practices, and impact among healthcare workers in a South-Eastern Nigerian state. J Infect Dev Ctries 14:943–952. doi: 10.3855/jidc.13248

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Issue

Vol. 14 No. 09: September 2020

Section

Coronavirus Pandemic

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