A cross-sectional survey of doctors in Nigeria regarding local infection prevention and control procedures for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

Abstract

Background: Worldwide, COVID-19-related mortalities have included healthcare workers in the frontline caring for COVID-19-infected patients. This necessitates the practice of infection prevention and control procedures to protect health professionals from contracting the virus at the workplace. We investigated the knowledge and practice of doctors working in Nigeria regarding infection prevention and control procedures in the workplace.

Methodology: This is a cross-sectional study of doctors and dentists working in Nigeria using a semi-structured self-administered questionnaire adapted from the World Health Organization's “Perception of health workers regarding local infection prevention and control procedures for the Coronavirus Disease 2019” tool. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25.

Results: 302 doctors participated in this survey. Most were female 195 (64.6%); 80.50% provided direct care to patients; 267 (88.4%) worked in hospitals with suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19, while 179 (59.3) directly cared for patients with suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19 infection. 137 (70.6%) had close contact with confirmed cases of COVID-19. Hand hygiene and gloves were the most common procedure/material available for the prevention of infections for the respondents in the healthcare settings, followed by other types of medical facemasks, N95 respirator masks, eye protection like goggles and disposable aprons.

Conclusion: In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, doctors in Nigeria were knowledgeable about infection prevention procedures but did not have access to personal protective equipment.