EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE TO EBOLA VIRUS DISEASE AMONG HEALTH WORKERS IN HEALTH FACILITIES IN LAGOS STATE

Abstract

The re-emergence of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in the West African sub-region has stimulated health workers, public health officials and other relevant health stake-holders to initiate a functional emergency preparedness plan and response to control the spread of the disease. Outbreaks of the EVD epidemic provide a clear example of the high risk for health workers to become infected, and in instances sustain and amplify transmission in hospitals through their patients, family members and the community. Therefore, this study examined the level of preparedness and response among health workers to Ebola virus disease in health facilities in Lagos State, Nigeria. A cross-sectional design was adopted for the study and a sample size of 450 respondents was selected through a multi- stage random sampling technique. A self - administered questionnaire which was sub-divided into five sections was used to obtain data from the respondents. Key informant interview was also used to obtain information from individuals who were involved in response to EVD emergency. Data collected through questionnaire were analysed using descriptive statistics, Chi square test and logistic regression model at 5% level of significance. A greater proportion (70.4%) of the respondents were females. The mean age of the respondents was 37.3 ± 7.88 years and 30.9% were above 40 years. Large proportion (89.8%) had a good knowledge on EVD with a mean knowledge score of 5.48 ± 1.141. Respondents with good knowledge on case definition, incubation period and mode of transmission of EVD within the facility were 94.4%, 86.4% and 92.7% respectively. Fifty - two percent of the respondents had no formal training on how to respond to an EVD emergency while 89.1 % knew the initial action to take in response to EVD emergencies. Type of health facility, training of health workers on infection control practice and availability of an EVD plan were associated with preparedness (p<0.05). On the other hand, age, years of experience and initial action to take in the event of an emergency were associated with response (p<0.05). Training on standard infection precaution (OR=4.74; 95% Cl: 1.989 - 11.28; p=0.045) was a predictor for preparedness to EVD emergency. With the global threat of EVD and its potential risk to health care workers, emphasis should be directed towards training health workers on infection control procedures. Such intervention will improve health workers preparedness for EVD emergency and thereby prevent further transmission of EVD in hospitals through patients, family members and the community.