Knowledge, attitudes, and practices toward COVID-19 among healthcare workers in Shabwah Governorate, Yemen: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: The first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with significant morbidity and mortality among healthcare workers worldwide. The present study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of healthcare workers toward COVID-19 at Ataq General Hospital, and three other hospitals and health centers in Shabwah Governorate, Yemen. Materials and Methods: From January 1, 2022, to February 28, 2022, a cross-sectional survey of healthcare workers was conducted in the city of Ataq, Shabwah Governorate at the following hospitals: Ataq General Hospital, Al Shefa’a Hospital, Al Aafiah Hospital, and COVID-19 Isolation Center. Results: A total of 107 healthcare workers completed the survey. Their mean age was 28.17 ± 7.73 years, 79 (73.8%) of them were male and 28 (26.2%) were female. The overall knowledge was good, with a score of 19 out of 21; however, most participants were unaware of some of the extra-respiratory symptoms of the disease, such as diarrhea and confusion, and about 57% of them were unaware that eating or interacting with wild animals may contribute to the infection with the COVID-19 virus. Attitude analysis of the participants revealed that about half of those surveyed do not believe that Yemen can contain COVID-19. In general, the practice of the participants was good. Conclusion: Although the overall knowledge score in this study was good, most respondents could not recognize some of the extrapulmonary manifestations of COVID-19 and were unaware of the possibility of transmission of the disease from wild animals. In addition, about half of those surveyed do not believe that Yemen can contain COVID-19.