infectious-diseases-2016_scientifictracks-abstracts

12 / 34

Volume 4, Issue 4(Suppl) J Infect Dis Ther 2016
ISSN: 2332-0877, JIDT an open access journal
Page 42
Notes:
Infectious Diseases 2016
August 24-26, 2016
conferenceseries.com
August 24-26, 2016 Philadelphia, USA
&
Infectious DiseasesJoint Event on 2nd World Congress on
Pediatric Care & Pediatric Infectious Diseases
International Conference on
Assessment of knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding Lassa fever among healthcare workers in a
tertiary hospital, Enugu, South-East, Nigeria: Implications for control
Omotowo I Babatunde, Eyisi I G, Obi I E and Agwu-Umahi R O
University of Nigeria, Nigeria
Introduction: Lassa fever is a hemorrhagic fever caused by an arena virus. Worldwide, an estimated 2 million people are infected
each year resulting to 5,000 to 10,000 deaths. It is endemic in a few West African Countries. In 2012, Nigeria experienced the worst
outbreak.
Objective: To assess the knowledge, attitude and practices of healthcare workers towards Lassa fever in Enugu, South-East, Nigeria.
Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted among 325 healthcare workers. Data was collected using a self reported
questionnaire on the knowledge, attitude and practices towards Lassa fever. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 21 and statistical
significance of association between variables was assessed using Chi-square test at p<0.05. Ethical clearance was obtained from the
Research Ethics Committee of UNTH and informed written consent was obtained from the participants.
Results: Overall 325 respondents returned the completed questionnaire. 54.7% were males, 92.6% were aged between 18 to 45 years
while their mean age was 32.4±12.6 years. Most of the participants 53.8%were single. Majority of the respondents were Doctors 46.2%,
Nurses 23.4%, while Lab scientists, physiotherapists, pharmacists and radiographers were 12.9%, 8.6%, 4.3%, and 4.6% respectively.
Also, 97.6% of respondents had tertiary education. Among the participants, only 2.8% have not heard about Lassa fever. Major
sources of information are media 87.1%, radio 86.5%, and television 84.9%. Most of the participants knew correctly that Lassa fever
can affect all age groups 91.7%, can cause death 92.3%, is a communicable disease 93.8% and transmitted by rats 96.6%. Most of them
also knew correctly modes of transmission. However, about 20% of them did not know correctly prevention of Lassa fever. Majority of
them believed that hand gloves were most useful personal protective measures while handling patients. Knowledge concerning burial
practices and other preventive measures is poor. Only 46.5% of them regularly practiced barrier nursing and hand washing as means
of containing the spread of infection. Knowledge on Lassa fever was found to be significantly associated with level of education (X2
=105.680, df=4, p=0.000), but not significant to category of profession (X2=9.430, df=10, p=0.492).
Conclusion: Majority of health workers had good knowledge regarding Lassa fever. However, preventive practices were poor. Health
education packages and training regarding Lassa fever should be introduced and sustained in all health facilities.
Biography
Omotowo I Babatunde has obtained MBBS from University of Ilorin, Nigeria in 1987, MPH from University of Nigeria, Nsukka in 2006 and FWACP from West African College
of Physicians in 2009. He has worked as a Medical Advisor for German Leprosy and Tuberculosis Relief Association from 2010 to 2012. He is a Lecturer at the Department
of Community Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, since August, 2012. He is the MBBS Coordinator in the department since then. He has published some
papers in both local and international journals. His interests are in infectious and non-communicable diseases.
Omotowo I Babatunde et al., J Infect Dis Ther 2016, 4:4(Suppl)