Knowledge of Ebola Virus disease prevention and its intra-epidemic practice among health workers of a tertiary health care Facility in North-Western Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Ebola virus disease (EVD) is a highly contagious, life-threatening viral illness characterised by haemorrhagic symptoms in late stage of the disease. A substantial number of healthcare personnel acquired the illness in the 2014 outbreak in West Africa. Health workers (HCWs) have 21–32 higher chances of contracting the disease compared to the general adult population. In Nigeria, three out of the first four casualties were a doctor and two nurses. Objectives: The study was conducted to assess the knowledge and intra-epidemic practices regarding the prevention of EVD among healthcare workers in a healthcare facility in northwestern Nigeria. Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study, in which systematic sampling technique was used to select the respondents. Data were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences software (version 21). A structured self-administered questionnaire containing close-ended questions was used. It has three sections: sociodemographic data, knowledge of prevention of EVD and the practice of prevention of EVD. Results: Out of 150 respondents studied, 91 (60.6%) had good knowledge of how to prevent EVD. Despite the good knowledge of how to prevent EVD, 72 (48.0%) respondents did not practice comprehensive prevention of EVD during the epidemic. There was a statistically significant association between the professions of the respondents and their practice of prevention of EVD (P = 0.0279). Practice of comprehensive EVD prevention decreases with professional rank and is lower among junior HCWs. Conclusion: For effective control of future outbreaks, there is a need to adopt infection prevention control strategies that will improve intra-epidemic preventive practices among HCWs, especially the junior HCWs.