Hospitals Preparedness for COVID-19 Disease Prevention and Care in Eastern Amhara Region, Amhara, Ethiopia, 2020

Abstract

Introduction: Severe acute respiratory infection remains one of the leading causes of mortality around the world. It affects the world in multidisciplinary ways. Corona virus disease, since its emergence it poses multi sectorial crisis to the world both developed and developing country without and discrimination. So, to prevent this crisis it is better to focus on prevention action and make health institution ready to combat the disease.Objectives: The objective of this study is to assess preparedness of governmental hospitals in eastern Amhara region for corona virus disease prevention and care 2020.Methods and Materials: semi qualitative institutional based cross sectional was implemented to assess the readiness of governmental hospitals for corona virus disease prevention and care in governmental hospitals in eastern Amhara region. All hospitals in the study areas were included in the study and the data was collected using structured checklist extracted from CDC, WHO and federal ministry of health facility preparedness checklist. For data entry, cleaning and analysis, software application was used and it will be represented using tables, graphs, rate, ratio, proportion. Cross tabulation, chi-square test and logistics regression were used for analysis technique. P-value and odds ratios were also used to show strength of association.Result and Conclusion: The study includes 25% secondary and 75% primary hospitals with the mean age of 11.29 years (±1.802 years). More than half (57.14%, n=16) hospitals were not ready to prevent and care COVID 19 disease for their staffs and the surrounding community. The study finding claims that most of hospitals were not ready to fight against COVID 19 disease in their compound as well as the surrounding community. Location, age, distance from regional and national capital city, level of hospital and availability of fund has little to high relationship with the readiness of hospitals for COVID 19 disease. Materials were not distributed evenly, personnel protective equipment were not available to all staffs in a sufficient way, isolation centers were not organized and equipped with necessary materials and appropriate staff were not allocated in the area as well.Funding Statement: Wollo UniversityDeclaration of Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests.Ethics Approval Statement: Permission and cooperation letter to carry out the study was obtained from the Wollo University Research and Community Service Directorate and submitted to each hospitals.