Abstract
Introduction: In January 2020, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was identified as the causative agent of a novel respiratory infection that rapidly spread worldwide, which led to the World Health Organization declaring COVID-19 a pandemic in March 2020culminating in the declaration of the COVID-19 pandemic by March 2020. While well-resourced health systems were expected to mount highly effective pandemic responses, a paradox emerged; high-income regions such as Europe and North America accounted for 95% of global health and care worker deaths despite their advanced infrastructure. This study aimed to analyse the consistency and effectiveness of infection prevention and control (IPC) responses among health professionals in an African context, addressing a key gap in the literature.
Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted at Sally Mugabe Central Hospital (SMCH) in Zimbabwe, targeting 460 health professionals, including permanently employed doctors, nurses, and rehabilitation therapists, who worked at the hospital between 2020 and 2023. Data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire and were analysed using IBM SPSS Version 22, applying descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and logistic regression to assess the relationship between COVID-19 infection and workplace factors.
Results: Key findings showed that 61.1% of respondents contracted COVID-19 during the pandemic. Although 93.5% received multiple doses of the COVID-19 vaccine and 91.3% underwent testing, only 28.5% consistently wore all required personal protective equipment (PPE), and 15.2% reported not always adhering to PPE protocols. Statistically significant associations were found between COVID-19 infection status and variables such as vaccination status (p = 0.041), training adequacy (p = 0.012), medication access (p = 0.012), and personal challenges (p = 0.015). Logistic regression showed that testing (OR = 0.18, 95% CI: 0.06–0.57) and vaccination (OR = 0.30, 95% CI: 0.10–0.88) significantly reduced infection risk, while perceived training inadequacy (OR = 2.44), female sex (OR = 2.88), and receipt of mental health counselling (OR = 1.68) increased the likelihood of infection.
Conclusion: The study recommends that hospital management strengthen outbreak response protocols by ensuring comprehensive IPC training, adequate PPE supplies, regular testing, and enforcement of occupational response measures. Furthermore, mental health counselling and
psychosocial support should be integrated into national Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for future pandemics.