A cross-sectional analysis of health-care workers' awareness and readiness to handle COVID-19 in public health facilities in the Oromia Region's west Guji district, southern Ethiopia. 2020.

Abstract

Background

Corona virus outbreak, according to the World Health Organization is a dangerous disease. Health professionals are at a higher risk of contracting COVID-19, based on their experience with extreme acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in 2003 and SARS-CoV-2 is a virus that causes SARS. As a result, it has been proposed that a periodic broad-scale assessment of health-care workers' skills and preparedness for the current COVID-19 pandemic is important.

Objectives                 

To evaluate the skills and preparedness of health care workers at public health facilities in the west Guji region for the management of the Corona Virus (COVID - 19), 2020.

Methods

A institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted from November to December, 2020. West Guji zone public health facilities were included. The front-runners with the most experience were drawn from their departments in proportion. Epi Data was used to enter data from a self-administered questionnaire, which was then analyzed using SPSS software. Both descriptive and inferential statistics are discussed, as well as bivariable and multivariable regression analysis presented.

Results

420 health care staffs involved in the study. The majority (253, 60.2%) of the health care staffs were female. Of the total, 151 (36.0%) subjects were nurses, followed by midwife (123, 29.3%), doctors (93, 22.1%), medical laboratory (23, 5.5%) and pharmacists (30, 7.1%). Of these, education of the health care staffs, majority (240, 57.1%) of the degree, diploma (167,39.8%) and master and above(13,3.1%).health care workers working in hospital(240,57.1%),health centre(167,39.8%)and health post(13,3.1%). 360(85.7%) of the staffs had good knowledge regarding management of covid19. 60(14.3%) of the health care staffs had poor knowledge regarding management of covid19. There is association between age, gender with knowledge on health care workers management towards COVID-19 and there is no association is found between Sex, marital status, occupation, work experience, and hospital type are all variables to consider. There is a link between age, gender, marital status, hospital form, and work experience, but no link exists between profession and education.

Conclusion:

The Present study showed that health care staffs in west Guji zone, Ethiopia, previously recognized significant idea but had a clear understanding of the COVID-19 pandemic. There were some requirement in younger age groups, staff nurses and female staffs. Fifty percentages of the participants mention poor awareness of their hospitals point to the need for more universal solidarity, in particular relating to the scarcity of consumables and shortage of equipment.