Awareness of Health Professionals on COVID-19 and Factors Affecting It Before and During Index Case in North Shoa Zone, Ethiopia, 2020

Introduction

COVID-19 is a disease caused by a new strain of the coronavirus, SARS COV-2.^1–3 Coronaviruses have the potential to cause severe transmissible human disease.⁴ Coronaviruses cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases respiratory tracts.¹

The known transmission routes for coronaviruses include sustained human-to-human transmission via respiratory, by touching a contaminated surface or objects.⁵ One of the challenges of COVID-19 outbreaks is that it is difficult to differentiate from other respiratory illnesses.⁶

COVID-19 affects all people especially older age, with chronic medical conditions, such as diabetes and heart disease were at a greater risk of developing severe symptoms.³ Since 31 December 2019 and as of 23 April 2020, globally 2588 068 cases of COVID-19 have been reported, including 182 808 deaths. In Africa, 25,686 COVID-19 cases and 1232 deaths were reported since April 23, 2020. African countries with the highest estimated numbers of COVID-19 cases were South Africa, Egypt, Morocco, Algeria, and Cameroon. Ethiopia reported 116 COVID-19 cases and 3 deaths with 61 cases in these 14 days as of April 23, 2020.⁷

The COVID-19 has effect on the entire world economy including Africa.⁸ Examples of this include tourism, air transport, and the oil sector. Based on Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), 43 African countries have reported COVID-19 cases so far. The incidence of both infectious and non-communicable diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or asthma is high in Africa which is most vulnerable to the coronavirus, for whom the virus is often fatal.⁹

Ethiopia confirmed the first case of COVID-19 on March 13, 2020. Ethiopia reported a total of 116 COVID_19 cases and 3 deaths with 61 cases in these 14 days as of April 23, 2020.¹⁰ Pandemic and newly emerging infectious diseases strike developing countries including Ethiopia beyond the health system. To prevent and control newly emerging infectious diseases including COVID-19; there was a need for increased awareness, skill, and attitude of a health professional. As COVID-19 was a newly emerging pandemic disease globally, assessment of the health professionals’ awareness towards clinical and epidemiological spectrum and factors influencing it was a very important agenda.

Many COVID-19 cases fully had recovery. But minority of its cases had been developed acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), multiple organ failure, and sometimes death. The ratio of case-fatality is currently unknown but is estimated to be within the range of 0.5–4%.¹¹

The impact of COVID-19 to all human beings is inevitable. For example, the proportions of hypertension, cardio-cerebrovascular disease, and diabetes patient with COVID-19 were 17.1%, 16.4%, and 9.7%, respectively.¹² The incidences of hypertension, cardio-cerebrovascular diseases, and diabetes were about twofold upper in health care facilities.^13,14 The COVID-19 virus has many dimensional negative impact on the world.^15,16

The most common symptoms were fever and cough.¹⁸ Most cases have mild disease and 20% cases progress to severe respiratory diseases, and in some cases death.^6,19,20

Currently, the diagnosis of COVID-19 is based on gene detection via real-time RT-PCR. With the isolation of the causative agent, the development of serological tests and rapid diagnostic tests in addition to virus detection will be required.²¹ In addition to the PCR test, X-ray and CT-images can be used as a suggestive diagnostic modality.¹⁸

On the other hand, scientists around the world are actively exploring drugs but efficacy and safety of these candidate drugs in the treatment of COVID-19 need to be confirmed in further preclinical and clinical trials.²² Still, there is no drug treatment or vaccine for this disease except supportive care.²³

Once an individual gets sick with COVID-19, CDC recommends staying home, separate himself from other people, wear a facemask, avoid sharing personal household items and monitor symptoms.^24–26 In most scenarios, highly effective contact tracing and case isolation are best for the prevention and control of COVID-19. Therefore, isolation and contact tracing decreased transmission by a decrease in the effective reproduction number.²⁷

The Hospitals were also safeguarded by their staff who care for patients and monitoring them for signs or symptoms of infection. Hence, support is provided to the morale and well-being of the workforce.²⁸

The experience of Hangzhou on the prevention and control of COVID-19 showed that awareness creation, contact minimization, and travel restriction were the most pertinent measures for its prevention and control.²⁹

Different countries were following potential policies towards COVID-19 prevention and control with regards to patients, visitors, and health care workers. These were screening all visitors for any respiratory symptoms, restricting health care workers from working if they have any upper respiratory tract symptoms and screening all patients with signs and symptoms.^30–32 In some countries, work from the home arrangement for some employee was also made due to the COVID-19 related closure.³³ The effect of COVID-19 on developing countries is in all aspects of the globe people. This negative impact COVID-19 is very high in African country including Ethiopia. So, this study was aimed to assess the level of awareness (clinical and epidemiological spectrum) and factors related to it among health care professionals, North Shoa Zone, Ethiopia.

Methods

Study Design

A facility-based cross-sectional study was carried out to identify the level of awareness (clinical and epidemiological spectrum) of COVID-19 and factors affecting it among health professionals at governmental public health hospitals in the North Shoa zone, Ethiopia.

Study Area and Period

The study was conducted in North Shoa Zone, Amhara regional state. This zone is found in the Amhara National Regional State. A study has been conducted from March 7–16/2020. The Zone has located 130 km from Addis Ababa. Regarding the health facilities there are 10 public hospitals from which 9 primary public hospital and one referral hospital, there are 97 health centers, 389 health posts in the Zone.

Source Population

Health professionals who worked in North Shoa zone government hospitals.

Study Population

Health professionals who worked in North Shoa zone government hospitals.

Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria

All health professionals who were working in the selected hospitals with a professional level of the diploma and above included in this study. Health professionals who were unable to talk, seriously ill, and recruited less than six months of duration were excluded from this study.

Sample Size and Sampling Procedure

Sample Size

The sample size was calculated using a single population proportion formula as follows with a 95% confidence level, and marginal of error 5%.

n = Z(α/2)² p (1 –p)/d²

where n = minimum sample size;

Z(α/2)²= 95% Confidence level;

P = proportion of awareness of COVID-19 among health professional in which p=50% since there is no previous study;

D=5% margin of error.

In which n=[(1.96)² (0.5)(1–0.5)]/(0.05)² =384 adding 10% non-response rate; n=422.

Sampling Technique and Procedure

A total of 10 hospitals were found in the North Shoa zone, of which 9 are district hospitals, and one is referral hospital. As the two district hospitals started to provide the service recently and a few staff available (Molle and Mida Hospital), not included in the study. The remaining 8 hospitals were included in the study and a proportional to size allocation was used to collect the data (Figure 1).

Figure 1 Sampling procedure on study subjects of COVID-19 awareness study at North Shoa zone among health professionals, 2020.

Data Collection Methods

A structured questionnaire prepared in English and then translated to Amharic and back to English to maintain tool consistency. Seven physicians and one BSC nurse were assigned as data collectors and supervised by the principal. The data collection tool was pre-tested in private hospitals with a similar setup to sort out language barriers and contextual differences. Hence, any ambiguity in the questionnaires was corrected for the final data collection.

Data Quality Assurance

Questionnaires were checked and pre-test in a private hospital on 5% of participants. Principal investigators were checked for consistency and completeness to maintain the quality of data. Also, one-day training on data collection techniques and briefing of the questioners were made by the principal investigators.

Data Processing and Analysis

Data were entered, coded, and cleaned by using EPI-INFO version 3.5.4 software, and then the cleaned data were exported to SPSS version 20 software for analysis. Descriptive analysis (text, percent, mean and median) was used to describe the study population concerning relevant variables. Variable having a p-value less than 0.05 with Bivariable analysis were transferred into the multivariable analysis. Variables with a p-value of less than 0.05 in the final model were considered as statistically significant. Levels of the association were reported using AOR and a 95% confidence interval.

Operation Definition

COVID-19 awareness – health professional was considered aware of COVID-19 in its different spectrum if they score the mean value and above from 20 questions.

A spectrum of COVID-19 – the spectrum of COVID-19 refers to knowing the epidemiology, risk factor, sign and symptom, diagnostic approach, management, prevention, and control plus countries’ experience to control and prevent COVID-19.

Result

Socio-Demographic Characteristics of the Respondents

A total of 384 respondents with a response rate of 91% participated in the study. About 117 (30.5%) of the participants were from Debre Berhan referral hospital. Regarding the age distribution of the participants, 237 (61.7%) of the participants were in the age group 26–35 years with the mean age of 28.8 years.

While in case of marital status 198 (50.8%) were single. Two hundred thirty-three (60.7%) of the participants were male. Most of the respondents 283 (73.7%) were degree by profession. One hundred thirty-eight (35.9%) of the respondents were worked for five and more years. About 135 (35.2%) and 118 (30.7%) were from Ward and OPD, respectively (Table 1).

Table 1 Socio-Demographic Characteristics of Health Professionals in North Shoa Zone, 2020 (n=384)

Health Professionals and Organizational Characteristics

Majority 262 (68.2%) of the participants had a television at home while 159 (41.4%) had a radio. About 85% (324) of the participants had a smartphone and three-fourth (298) of them did have a habit of searching health-related information via the internet. With regard to the institution, only 154 (40.1%) of the health professionals reported that their institution avail television to their department. The majority of the respondents, 233 (60.7%) mentioned that their institution had internet access. Only 118 (30.7%) of the health professionals reported as their institution has a seminar on emerging diseases (Table 2).

Table 2 Health Professionals and Organizational Characteristics in North Shoa Zone, 2020 (n=343)

Respondents COVID-19 Related to Awareness

The proportion of participants who were aware of COVID-19 in this study was 305 (79.4%). Among the health professionals, who heard of emerging disease, heard about COVID-19, and said COVID-19 affects mainly respiratory system were 299 (77.9%), 372 (96.9%) and 379 (98.7%) respectively. Fever (373 (97.1%)), cough (358 (93.2%)), and shortness of breath (342 (89.1%)) were the most common mentioned sign and symptoms of COVID-19 by the health professionals. Out of 384 respondents, 291 (75.8%) were responded as COVID-19 was a zoonotic disease. About 141 (36.7%), 337 (87.8%),164 (42.7%), and 40 (10.4%) of health professionals explained as COVID-19 was 100% fatal, affects all segments of the population, treatable disease and have vaccination, respectively. Direct contact was the most common mode of transmission for COVID-19 mentioned by health professionals (Table 3).

Table 3 Participants’ COVID-19 Awareness with Different Components in North Shoa Zone, April 2020 (n=384)

Strategies Suggested for Early Recognition

One hundred (26%) of the participants were explained that isolation was one of the early recognized measures of COVID-19 while 53 (13.8%) were health promotion (Figure 2).

Figure 2 Strategies suggested for early recognition of COVID-19, 2020 (n=384).

Suspect Patient with the Coronavirus Infection

The major reason (94.5%) rose by the respondents for a suspect patient with the coronavirus infection were travel to an epidemic country with fever and travel to China with fever (Figure 3).

Figure 3 Suspect patient with coronavirus infection suggested by the health professionals, North Shoa zone, 2020 (n=384).

Prevention and Control Methods of the Coronavirus Infection

Vaccination of cases, hand washing and using face mask were among the most common prevention, and control methods mentioned by the health professionals, North Shoa one,2020 (n=384) (Figure 4).

Figure 4 Prevention and control methods of coronavirus infection suggested by the health professionals, North Shoa zone, 2020 (n=384).

Factors Associated with an Awareness

The association between different independent variables and health professionals’ awareness of COVID-19 was assessed using a binary logistic regression model. Accordingly, working health institutions, types of profession, level of the profession, availability of television at home, availability of television in the department of the working institution, and hearing about emerging diseases in the past have a significant association with health professional awareness in crude odds’ ratio.

To determine the independent effect of variables on health professional awareness, multiple logistic regression analysis was done. Here in multi-variable analysis working health institutions, types of profession, level of the profession, availability of television at home, and hearing of the emerging diseases in the past had a significant association with an awareness of health professionals on COVID-19 at 95% CI (Table 4).

Table 4 Bivariate and Multivariable Analysis of Factors Associated with Health Professionals’ Awareness in North Shoa Zone, 2020 (N=384)

Regarding the working health institution, 103 (26.8%) of Debre Berhan Referral Hospital was aware of COVID-19. About 140 (37%) of nurses were aware of COVID-19. Midwife health professionals were about 7 times more likely to be aware of COVID-19 than that of laboratory (AOR=6.9, 95% CI=1.6–29.8). Regarding the level of the profession,63% of the study participants who were aware had degree level of education. Health professionals with a degree level of education were two times more likely to be aware than that of a diploma level (AOR=2.3, 95% CI=1.4–4.4). (Table 4)

More than half of the respondents 216 (56.3%) who had a television at their home were aware of COVID-19. Health professionals who had a television at home were two times more aware of COVID-19 than their counterparts. Similarly, health professionals who had heard about emerging diseases were 2,7 times more likely to be aware of COVID-19 than who did not hear (AOR=2.7, 95% CI=1.5–5). (Table 4)

Discussion

According to this study, the proportion of participants who were aware of COVID-19 was 305 (79.4%) while according to the WHO recommendations, health professionals were expected to be aware and competent in medical screening and management, including health monitoring.³⁴ The possible reason for 20% of health professionals not to be aware might be the data were collected before Covid-19 cases reported in Ethiopia.

Among the health professionals, heard about COVID-19 and said COVID-19 affects mainly respiratory system was 372 (96.9%) and 379 (98.7%) respectively. This means most of the health professionals explain the organ most affected by the COVID-19 in line with the WHO.³⁴

In case of sign and symptom; fever 373 (97.1%), cough 358 (93.2%) and shortness of breath 342 (89.1%) were the most common mentioned sign and symptoms of COVID-19 by the health professionals while studies and guidelines show that COVID-19 cases had a runny nose, sore throat, a cough, and fever.^1,2,6,17 Out of 384 respondents, 291 (75.8%) were responded as COVID-19 is a zoonotic disease.

Based on this study, 141 (36.7%) of health professionals explained as COVID-19 is 100% fatal while studies and guidelines show that the outcomes and prognosis of COVID-19 accounts vast most cases had cured. On the other hand, COVID-19 has been rapid progression to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), multiple organs failure, and sometimes death in small cases. The ratio case-fatality is currently unknown but is estimated to be within the range of 0.5–4%. Among the critical ills, mortality was attributed to secondary bacterial infections with multi-drug resistant organisms, sepsis, and septic shock.¹¹

In this study, 337 (87.8%) of health professionals explained as COVID-19 affects all segments of the population. Similarly, other studies showed that COVID-19 had negative impact on all segments of the population even though there was an epidemiological and clinical difference among age and co-morbid conditions.^35,36

Nearly 164 (42.7%) of health professionals explained as COVID-19 have a specific treatment while to date, there is no specific treatment for this virus. The efficacy and safety of these candidate drugs in the treatment of COVID-19 need to be confirmed in further preclinical and clinical trials.²² Supportive care, including hospitalization and intensive care unit management, was the only therapeutic option. Furthermore, the possibility that pneumonia caused by SARS–CoV-2 could, like influenza, potentiate fatal bacterial secondary infections need to be urgently investigated.²³ About 40 (10.4%) of health professionals explained as COVID-19 have vaccination while studies and guidelines show as there was no currently approved vaccine.²³ Direct contact is the most common mode of transmission for COVID-19 mentioned by health professionals.

In the case of independent factors associated with an awareness were the level of a profession in which about 63% of the study participants who were aware were degree while health professionals with a degree level of education were two times more likely to be aware than that of Diploma (AOR=2.3, 95% CI=1.4–4.4). There were no studies on the factors associated with the level of awareness to date to compare these findings.

According to this study, more than half of the respondents (216 (56.3%)) who had a television at their homes were aware of COVID-19. Health professionals who had a television at home were two times more aware of COVID-19 than their counterparts. Similarly, health professionals who had heard about emerging diseases were 2.7 times more likely to be aware of COVID-19 than those who did not hear (AOR=2.7, 95% CI=1.5–5).

The authors conclude that the level of awareness on COVID-19 by the health professionals was promising (79.4%). The types and level of the profession, availability of television at home, and hearing of the emerging diseases in the past were factors determine the awareness of health professional on COVID-19. Based on results found in this study, the authors recommended health institutions should have a system to address the expected competency of all health professionals during the pandemic like COVID-19. The practice of seminar presentation and self-learning among health professionals at the hospital level should also be strengthened. Furthermore, the authors recommended researches on the awareness, utilization of different health promotion channels among health professionals.

Limitation of the Study

The study design was facility-based cross-sectional. So, it had its drawback (this does not show which one was come first effect or cause).