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Health practitionerâ??s knowledge level of Lassa fever in Esan West local government area of Edo State

Anthony Okeoghene Eguvbe1*, Dr. Nosa Akpede2, Dr. Peter Waibode, Alabrah3, Dr. Nkencho Osegi4, Patience I. Izuyon5, Precious Obazenu6

Background

Nosocomial transmission of Lassa fever in healthcare settings represents a significant burden on the healthcare system. Infection prevention and control (IPC) in healthcare settings has been documented as an important factor in controlling potential outbreaks of Lassa fever. In support of this, studies have shown that in hospitals with improved IPC practices, that transmission of Lassa virus was reduced. It is important for health care workers to be conversant with Lassa fever transmission mechanism and prevention methods.

To assess healthcare practitioners’ knowledge of Lassa fever in Esan West LGA of Edo State

This was a cross-sectional descriptive study done using an interviewer administered semi-structured questionnaire. Participants were selected using a random sampling technique by simple balloting, consecutively until the sample size was achieved and the data collected were analyzed using SPSS version 21.

Majority 78 (49.4%) were married. Auxiliary nurses constituted most 71(44.9%) of the designations while Laboratory scientist 16 (10.1%) was least. Majority 110 (69.6%) of respondents worked in private hospitals while 48(30.4%) worked in General Hospitals. All (100%) the respondents have heard about Lassa fever. Majority (99.4%) knew the cause to be viral, 156 (98.7%) of the respondents knew the illness affects all age groups. 152 (96.2%) of respondents knew that it could be spread via infected body fluids, 143(90.5) said via contaminated equipment’s.

Findings from this study revealed a high level of awareness and knowledge of Lassa fever among health workers and this is reassuring to us the researchers but this high knowledge has to be maintained and put into practice in prevention of this disease.

Keywords: Health practitioner’s, knowledge, Lassa fever, Esan West