Level of implementation of WHO COVID-19 document on rights, roles and responsibilities of health workers in a tertiary hospital in Southwest Nigeria

Abstract

Introductionin order to curb the increasing spread of COVID-19 amongst health care workers (HCWs), the World Health Organization (WHO) released the COVID-19 Rights, Roles and Responsibilities of Health workers (COVID-19 RRRHW) policy document aimed at protecting HCWs amidst the on-going pandemic. This study determined the level of implementation of the document in a tertiary hospital in Southwest Nigeria.Methodsthis was a cross-sectional descriptive study among HCWs in a tertiary hospital in South-western Nigeria that assessed the level of implementation of the WHO COVID-19 RRRHW document using a closed ended structured questionnaire.Resultsfive hundred and thirty-five HCWs participated in the study comprising 165(30.8%) males and 370(69.2%) females. Majority (87.3%) of the HCWs were 40 years and below. One hundred and sixty-three (30.5%) of the HCWs had been involved in the care of COVID-19 patients; less than 60% of the respondents were aware of the presence of an official platform for dissemination of information on suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 435(81.3%) were aware of hospital training on Infection Prevention and Control (IPC); 191(35.7%) have had uninterrupted supplies of personal protective equipment(PPE) and IPC materials; 211(39.4%) were aware of mental and counselling services in the hospital while only 106(19.8%) knew how to access these services; 289(54%) have attended IPC training and 307(57.4%) are able to don and doff PPE.Conclusionthis study showed inadequate implementation of the WHO COVID-19 RRRHW document. There is urgent need for all stakeholders to familiarize with the document in order to ensure adequate protection of HCWs and minimize their risk of contracting COVID-19.