Compliance towards infection prevention measures among health professionals in public hospitals, southeast Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study with implications of COVID-19 prevention

• Published in: Tropical Medicine and Health
• Main Authors: Demisu Zenbaba, Biniyam Sahiledengle, Abulie Takele, Yohannes Tekalegn, Ahmed Yassin, Birhanu Tura, Adem Abdulkadir, Edao Tesa, Alelign Tasew, Gemechu Ganfure, Genet Fikadu, Kenbon Seyoum, Mohammedawel Abduku, Tesfaye Assefa, Garoma Morka, Makida Kemal, Adisu Gemechu, Kebebe Bekele, Abdi Tessema, Safi Haji, Gebisa Haile, Alemu Girma, Mohammedaman Mama, Asfaw Negero, Eshetu Nigussie, Habtamu Gezahegn, Daniel Atlaw, Tadele Regasa, Heyder Usman, Adem Esmael
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2021
• Subjects: Compliance; COVID-19; Preventive measures; Southeast Ethiopia; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1186/s41182-021-00318-y; https://doaj.org/article/1fe81878c1b144b0bb52cd5d604d029e

Abstract Introduction The new coronavirus disease 2019 is an emerging respiratory disease caused by the highly contagious novel coronavirus which has currently overwhelmed the world. Realizing a comprehensive set of infection prevention measures is a key to minimize the spread of this virus and its impacts in all healthcare settings. Therefore, this study was aimed to assess the compliance towards COVID-19 preventive measures and associated factors among health professionals in selected public hospitals, southeast Ethiopia. Methods A descriptive hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 660 health professionals in public hospitals of southeast Ethiopia from October 1 to 31, 2020. A multistage sampling technique was used to select the study participants. Data were collected by interview using structured and pretested questionnaires. Ordinary logistic regression modeling was used to estimate the crude and adjusted odds ratio. To declare the statistical significance of factors associated with the outcome variable, P-value < 0.05 and 95% confidence interval were used. Results A total of 654 health professionals were involved in the study; of whom, 313 participants were nurses. The overall good compliance and knowledge of health professionals regarding COVID-19 preventive measures were 21.6 and 25.5%, respectively. Working in the general hospital (AOR = 0.55; 95% CI 0.38, 0.79), service year (AOR = 2.10; 95% CI 1.35, 3.21), knowledge (AOR = 1.80; 95% CI 1.14, 2.89), and water availability (AOR = 3.26; 95% CI 2.25, 4.72) were some of the factors found to have a statistically significant association to compliance of health professionals regarding COVID-19 preventive measures. Conclusion In this study, nearly one fifth of health professionals had good compliance towards COVID-19 prevention practices. Thus, a consistent supply of COVID-19 prevention materials, facilities, and improving the knowledge of health professionals through on and off-job training are crucial.