Assessment of Knowledge of Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers towards Infection Prevention and Control Practice among Primary Healthcare Workers

Abstract

Background: The hospital-based contraction of the Viral Hemorrhagic fevers (VHFs) still remains a concern for many healthcare facilities while the significance of Infection prevention and control (IPC) practice as a means of preventing such occurrence has been established. The study aimed at assessing the self-rated knowledge of IPC among primary healthcare workers. Materials and Methods: 344 primary healthcare workers sampled across primary healthcare facilities in Port Harcourt metropolis. Primary data was gathered through self-administered questionnaire and was analysed using SPSS version 21. Results: Majority (75%) of the healthcare workers have not encountered any VHFs; however, (45.1%) possessed adequate information about VHFs. (66.0%) claimed not to have adequate knowledge about the transmission, (61.6%) do not have adequate knowledge about the etiology routes while (66.0%) claimed not to have adequate knowledge about symptoms associated of VHFs. Conclusion: The outcome showed that respondents have inadequate knowledge about the transmission, etiology routes and symptoms associated of VHFs. The study recommended that primary healthcare workers should be engaged in various training workshop to improve their understanding about the practice of IPC for VHFs.