Frontline Healthcare Workers’ Knowledge, Perception and Risk Prevention Practices Regarding COVID-19 in Afghanistan: A Cross-Sectional Study

Medical Sciences

VijayKumar Chattu¹  AkshayaSrikanth Bhagavathula²  Dipankar Srirag³  Akbar Ahmadi⁴  VijayR. Raghavan⁴ 

[1] Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 2C4, Canada;Department of Social and Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Charles University, 50005 Hradec Kralova, Czech Republic;Manipal Institute of Technology, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal 576104, India;The Johanniter International Assistance, Afghanistan Country Programme Kabul, Kabul Dist 10, Afghanistan;

关键词: COVID-19;    knowledge;    perception;    practices;    healthcare workers;    Afghanistan;   

DOI  :  10.3390/medsci9010002

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

(1) Background: As of 13 December 2020, Afghanistan reported around 48,952 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 1960 deaths. Lack of knowledge and perceptions among healthcare workers (HCWs) can pose challenges to disease control. Therefore, targeted, timely assessment of knowledge and perceptions are needed to address practices that might hinder efforts to stop the spreading of COVID-19 in Afghanistan. This study aimed to assess COVID-19-related knowledge, perceptions, and risk prevention practices (KPP) among frontline HCWs in Afghanistan; (2) Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with the support of field teams who were deployed in Afghanistan, surveyed from 14 to 22 April 2020 in eight provinces in Afghanistan with varying cumulative incidence of COVID-19 cases. A 28-item KPP survey instrument was adapted from other internationally validated questionnaires related to COVID-19. (3) Results: The survey was conducted among 213 frontline HCWs engaged in screening and treating COVID-19 patients. Survey results indicated that basic awareness of COVID-19 was 100% across all the participants. Knowledge and understanding of COVID-19 transmission, symptoms, incubation period and complications associated with COVID-19 are comprehensive and high (>90%), except available treatment for COVID-19 (84%). HCWs’ perceptions towards the prevention and control of COVID-19 were positive. However, only 63% believed that the use of N-95 face masks and disposable and fluid-resistant gowns (76%) could prevent COVID-19 transmission. This survey showed high knowledge and positive perception (72%), and only 48% of frontline HCWs had shown risk prevention practices. Addressing their perceptions and placing additional focus on practices across all health facilities is recommended as a preparedness measure.

【 授权许可】

Unknown