Knowledge, attitude and practice of medical laboratory practitioners in the fight against Ebola virus disease
Introduction: Ebola virus disease (EVD) in West Africa was an enormous public health challenge. Nigeria was able to contain the spread of the virus with a concerted effort and an effective public health response in terms of identification of contacts, rapid laboratory diagnosis, quarantine and sympt...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2018-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Virus Eradication |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2055664020302338 |
| _version_ | 1819093969495130112 |
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| author | Kabir M. Hamid Ibrahim Yusuf Bernard A. Onoja Abdullahi Y. Koki |
| author_facet | Kabir M. Hamid Ibrahim Yusuf Bernard A. Onoja Abdullahi Y. Koki |
| author_sort | Kabir M. Hamid |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction: Ebola virus disease (EVD) in West Africa was an enormous public health challenge. Nigeria was able to contain the spread of the virus with a concerted effort and an effective public health response in terms of identification of contacts, rapid laboratory diagnosis, quarantine and symptomatic treatment. We determined the knowledge, attitude and practice of medical laboratory practitioners (MLPs) in this post-Ebola epidemic era. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out in eight hospitals in Kano State for 6 months, between January and June 2016. It involved medical laboratory scientists (MLS), medical laboratory technicians (MLT) and medical laboratory assistants (MLA). Questionnaires were administered and analysed. Results: Of the 75 participants, mean knowledge score was 5.54 (standard deviation [SD] ±1.44) while the mean attitude score was 13.72 ±2.80, and mean practice score was 3.10 ±0.80. Mean age of participants was 36.82 ± 8.07 years. There was full awareness of EVD among all 75 participants; however, many medical laboratory practitioners (52.7%) did not know EVD prevention methods. The majority (86.1%) knew the source of disease outbreak and most MLPs (66.7%) practised improper hand washing to prevent Ebola transmission. In addition, they had a negative attitude and practice towards EVD. Of 71 MLPs, 52 (73.2%) strongly disagreed that a traditional remedy was preferable in EVD treatment. Conclusion: Fear of EVD among MLPs has declined. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T23:19:57Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a327d5b9ee7642128811ed5bc5a00014 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2055-6640 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T23:19:57Z |
| publishDate | 2018-01-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Virus Eradication |
| spelling | doaj.art-a327d5b9ee7642128811ed5bc5a000142022-12-21T18:46:49ZengElsevierJournal of Virus Eradication2055-66402018-01-014115Knowledge, attitude and practice of medical laboratory practitioners in the fight against Ebola virus diseaseKabir M. Hamid0Ibrahim Yusuf1Bernard A. Onoja2Abdullahi Y. Koki3Department of Immunology, School of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto, Nigeria; Corresponding author: Kabir M Hamid, Department of Immunology, School of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto, PMB 2346, NigeriaDepartment of Microbiology, Faculty of science, Bayero University Kano, NigeriaDepartment of Virology, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, NigeriaPathology Department, Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital, Kano, NigeriaIntroduction: Ebola virus disease (EVD) in West Africa was an enormous public health challenge. Nigeria was able to contain the spread of the virus with a concerted effort and an effective public health response in terms of identification of contacts, rapid laboratory diagnosis, quarantine and symptomatic treatment. We determined the knowledge, attitude and practice of medical laboratory practitioners (MLPs) in this post-Ebola epidemic era. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out in eight hospitals in Kano State for 6 months, between January and June 2016. It involved medical laboratory scientists (MLS), medical laboratory technicians (MLT) and medical laboratory assistants (MLA). Questionnaires were administered and analysed. Results: Of the 75 participants, mean knowledge score was 5.54 (standard deviation [SD] ±1.44) while the mean attitude score was 13.72 ±2.80, and mean practice score was 3.10 ±0.80. Mean age of participants was 36.82 ± 8.07 years. There was full awareness of EVD among all 75 participants; however, many medical laboratory practitioners (52.7%) did not know EVD prevention methods. The majority (86.1%) knew the source of disease outbreak and most MLPs (66.7%) practised improper hand washing to prevent Ebola transmission. In addition, they had a negative attitude and practice towards EVD. Of 71 MLPs, 52 (73.2%) strongly disagreed that a traditional remedy was preferable in EVD treatment. Conclusion: Fear of EVD among MLPs has declined.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2055664020302338Ebola virus, epidemic, health personnel, medical laboratory practitioners |
| spellingShingle | Kabir M. Hamid Ibrahim Yusuf Bernard A. Onoja Abdullahi Y. Koki Knowledge, attitude and practice of medical laboratory practitioners in the fight against Ebola virus disease Journal of Virus Eradication Ebola virus, epidemic, health personnel, medical laboratory practitioners |
| title | Knowledge, attitude and practice of medical laboratory practitioners in the fight against Ebola virus disease |
| title_full | Knowledge, attitude and practice of medical laboratory practitioners in the fight against Ebola virus disease |
| title_fullStr | Knowledge, attitude and practice of medical laboratory practitioners in the fight against Ebola virus disease |
| title_full_unstemmed | Knowledge, attitude and practice of medical laboratory practitioners in the fight against Ebola virus disease |
| title_short | Knowledge, attitude and practice of medical laboratory practitioners in the fight against Ebola virus disease |
| title_sort | knowledge attitude and practice of medical laboratory practitioners in the fight against ebola virus disease |
| topic | Ebola virus, epidemic, health personnel, medical laboratory practitioners |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2055664020302338 |
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