A Cross-Sectional Survey of Doctors in Nigeria Regarding Local Infection Prevention and Control Procedures for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

Dabota Yvonne Buowari; Nana Emeribe; Vivian Ifeoma Ogbonna; Evonemo Susan Esievoadje; Chioma Odimegwu; Ogechukwu Mary-Anne Isokariari; Mary Oluwakemisola Agoyi; Omoadoni D Emeagui; Aminat Oluwabokola Jimoh

doi:10.60787/NMJ-63-2-78

A Cross-Sectional Survey of Doctors in Nigeria Regarding Local Infection Prevention and Control Procedures for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

Niger Med J. 2022 Sep 16;63(2):169-175. doi: 10.60787/NMJ-63-2-78. eCollection 2022 Mar-Apr.

Authors

Dabota Yvonne Buowari¹, Nana Emeribe², Vivian Ifeoma Ogbonna³, Evonemo Susan Esievoadje⁴, Chioma Odimegwu⁵, Ogechukwu Mary-Anne Isokariari³, Mary Oluwakemisola Agoyi⁶, Omoadoni D Emeagui⁷, Aminat Oluwabokola Jimoh⁸

Affiliations

¹ Department of Accident and Emergency, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Rivers State, Nigeria.
² Department of Community Medicine, Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria.
³ Department of Community Medicine, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.
⁴ Department of Family Medicine, Federal Medical Centre, Asaba, Delta State, Nigeria.
⁵ Department of Paediatrics, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Enugu State.
⁶ Safer Hands Health Initiative, Association of Medical Students of University of Lagos Secretariat, Room 3, College Library Alley, College of Medicine of the University of Lagos, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba, Lagos. Nigeria.
⁷ Department of Paediatrics, Federal Medical Centre, Asaba, Delta State, Nigeria.
⁸ Department of Surgery, Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, Kaduna State.

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 "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 period of the COVID-19 pandemic, doctors in Nigeria were knowledgeable about infection prevention procedures but do not have access to personal protective equipment.

Keywords: COVID-19; Infection prevention; Personal protective equipment; Physicians.