Abstract
Background:
Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at a higher risk of infection since they are on the front lines of
the coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic. The spread of infection may be accelerated as a result of healthcare workers lack of awareness and ineffective COVID-19 infection prevention and control practices. The study aims to assess healthcare workers' knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) related coronavirus (COVID-19) infection prevention and control (IPC).
Methods:
A cross-sectional study was carried out at Mankweng Tertiary and Academic Hospital. A convenience sample method was utilized to identify study participants, who included doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, radiographers, and dieticians. At the time of the study, all individuals who were available or could be reached in different departments or wards were chosen. The study included 243 healthcare workers. After gaining consent, participants were given a self- administered structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics on the covariates variables, KAP of HCWs at Mankweng hospital was conducted. Inferential analyses that included chi-square tests to assess the differences were performed. The p-value less than 0.05 were used for statistical significance. The logistic regression analysis was done to obtain the crude odds ratio and adjusted odds ratio (AOR) to determine factors that were significantly related to appropriate IPC. In order to determine the mean score, all the percentages for each were added and divided by the number of questions.
Results:
A total of 243 HCWs participated in the study. The majority of participants (91%) had good knowledge about COVID-19 IPC. Furthermore, there were no significant difference in knowledge score across covariates variables of participants (p-value > 0.05). Most of the participants (67%) had a negative attitude about COVID-19 IPC regardless of their gender, age category, education, and work experience. There was no significant difference between gender, age category, education, and work experience with attitude status (p-value > 0.05). The majority of the participants (71%) had good practices regarding COVID-19 infection prevention and control regardless of their gender, age category, education, profession, and work experience. There was no significant difference between gender, age category, education, profession, and work experience with practice status (p-value > 0.05). The logistic regression analysis showed that covariates variables including age, education, work experience and attitudes were statistically significant with practices. Ages 21-29 years (AOR=3.83; 95% CI=1.25-11.75; P-value=0.019); 30-39 years (AOR=3.56; 95% CI=1.11-
11.42; P-value=0.033). Bachelor’s degree (AOR=2.64; 95% CI=1.03-6.77; P-value=0.044). Having less than 5 years’ experience (AOR=.31; 95% CI=.10-.95; P-value=0.040). Attitudes (AOR=.31; 95%CI=.14-.69; P-value=0.004). Conclusion:
Healthcare workers (HCWs) at all levels were on the front lines fighting the pandemic. Lack of knowledge, negative attitude and poor practices of healthcare workers regarding COVID-19 infection prevention and control measures may lead to the spread of infection. The results show that there is a need for ensuring adequate IPC training to all healthcare workers, universal availability of PPE among all healthcare workers and approaches to reduce fear among healthcare personnel.