Ogolodom MP, Mbaba AN, Alazigha N, Erondu OF, Egbe NO, Golden I, Ugwuanyi DC, Achi GI and Eke CM
Background: The rapid spread of the Covid-19 around the world with attendant mortality and morbidity is worrisome. A good knowledge of the infection process and control would modify behavioral patterns and strengthen the willingness of health care workers to perform their duties. This study was designed to assess the knowledge, attitude and fears of health care workers towards the Coronavirus pandemic. Materials and methods: This questionnaire-based descriptive study was conducted among healthcare workers in the South-South geopolitical zone of Nigeria. The questionnaire used for this study was constructed by the authors of this study and the content validity was calculated. Both paper and online version of the questionnaires were distributed to our participants and the obtained data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: A total of 300 completed questionnaires were analyzed in this study. The mean age of the participants was 33.6 ± 9.3 years with majority within the age group of 31-40 years, 126 (42%). Females were 172(57.33%) while males were 128 (42.67%).The majority 168 (56%) were highly aware of the pandemic and the most common source of their information was through colleagues 143 (47.67%). Majority of the participants 183 (61%) considered themselves at risk of being infected by the virus going to work these days. Most of the participants 186 (62%) agreed that work place safety is inadequate and lack of social insurance policy for healthcare workers was an obstacle to effective service delivery especially in this period of the pandemic. All the participants 300 (100%) agreed that there should be the provision of personal protective equipment (PPE) to all healthcare workers, especially the front liners and formidable social insurance policy as well as training and retraining of healthcare personnel. Conclusion: The health care workers in this study are well aware of the etiology of Coronavirus disease, mode of transmission and symptoms. Fear of infection and lack of indemnity are factors militating against effective dispensation of statutory obligations and improvement in workplace safety will boost health workers willingness to effectively carry out their duties in the face of COVID-19 pandemic.
