Knowledge of Lassa Fever and Use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Among Healthcare Workers in Sir Patrick Ibrahim YakowaMemorial Hospital (SPIYMH) Kafanchan, Kaduna State

Abstract

Background: Lassa fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic disease of public health concern causing recurrent outbreaks that often involve healthcare providers. Effective hospital infection control limits the impact of this disease.

Aim: The study assessed the knowledge of Lassa fever and the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) in infection prevention and control among healthcare workers in Sir Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa memorial hospital Kafanchan.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional research design was adopted; the target population of the study was 185 healthcare workers and a sample size of 125 were selected using Krejcie and Morgan. Data was collected with the aid of questionnaires. The collected data were analyzed by the use of descriptive statistical tools such as Percentages and mean with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 24.0. A constant mean of 2.5 was used to ascertain the acceptance of the respondents.

Results: The findings revealed that the majority of the respondents had a good knowledge of Lassa fever having a grand mean score of 3.02 by agreeing with all the statements.Data representation based on infection prevention and control (IPC) measures in the workplace shows that respondents agree that they observe IPC measures while carrying out a procedure with a grand mean of 2.61. On the other hand, the availability of PPE in the workplace is inadequate with a grand mean score of 2.30.

Conclusion: Despite the good knowledge of Lassa fever among healthcare workers, there is a need for the government and the ministry of health to ensure adequate provision of personal protective equipment in the workplace to safeguard the health of its staff.

Keywords: Lassa fever, Personal Protective Equipment, Infection Prevention