The Adequacy of Hospital Response to COVID-19 Pandemic amongst Surgical Institutions in South-Eastern Nigeria.

Abstract

The novel corona virus (COVID-19) was first diagnosed in Wuhan, China in December 2019. The healthcare specifically, departments of surgery in Southeastern Nigeria, are making modifications to cope and plan for the pandemic. To evaluate how well surgical institutions in Southeastern Nigeria are prepared for the anticipated influx of Covid-19 patients, existing patients and to determine the adequacy of hospital provision of essential supplies and awareness creation. A cross-sectional online study of two hundred and one (201) surgery resident doctors in surgical institutions in South-eastern Nigeria was conducted. Questionnaires were designed and distributed using online platforms. The data obtained was analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). Significance was set at P < 0.05. Consent was obtained from all respondents. A total of 201 surgery resident doctors filled and submitted their questionnaires, response rate of 71.5%, out of which 50.1% agreed that hospital response to Covid-19 pandemic was inadequate, 78.3% agreed that the Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) provided by hospitals were inadequate while about 53.8% agreed that the hospital workforce was poor and inadequate and incapable of adapting to the unstable workforce during the pandemic. About 46.2% agreed that the hospitals were conducting an adequate creation of awareness with regards to the pandemic while 25% agreed that the hospital compliance with the CDC (Center for disease control) preventive protocols/guidelines in surgical institutions were adequate.There was a statistically significant association (P = 0.019 (< 0.05); X2= 5.517) between hospital type and provision of adequate Personal protective equipment for surgical procedures. Only 19% of the government hospital employees felt that adequate amount of PPEs were provided compared to 41% of private hospital employees. The results from this study show that the hospital response to Covid-19 pandemic and awareness creation amongst surgical institutions in Southeastern Nigeria are inadequate. The government should equip the health sector by providing the necessary amenities to adequately combat the challenges of surgical practice in the Covid-19 pandemic.