Knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of healthcare professionals at the start of an Ebola virus epidemic - 12/05/20

Doi : 10.1016/j.medmal.2020.04.010

Mapendo Ndaliko Augustin ^a,^⁎ , Jean-Bosco Kahindo Mbeva ^b
^a Département de santé publique, Faculté de Médecine, Université Catholique du Graben (UCG), R.D. Congo
^b Département de santé publique, Faculté de santé et Développement communautaire (ULPGL), Université Officielle de Ruwenzori (UOR), Université Catholique du Graben (UCG), R.D. Congo

^⁎Corresponding author.

Sous presse. Épreuves corrigées par l'auteur. Disponible en ligne depuis le Tuesday 12 May 2020
Cet article a été publié dans un numéro de la revue, cliquez ici pour y accéder

Highlights

•

The radio was the best communication means to inform healthcare professionals about Ebola virus disease (EVD) if workshops could be organized by the technical and financial partners involved in the fight against Ebola. When contact tracing was not adequately performed by healthcare professionals, rapid spread of the virus was observed in this high population mobility region. Interviewed people also reported inadequate attitudes and practices when confronted with probable cases. This led to a high increase of cases among healthcare professionals (5% of confirmed cases until mid-November 2019) and to a high rate of Ebola virus nosocomial contaminations among individuals consulting at healthcare facilities.

Le texte complet de cet article est disponible en PDF.

Abstract

Introduction

In August 2018 the Ministry of Health of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) declared the 10th epidemic of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in a context of armed conflict and high population mobility. We aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of healthcare professionals related to this disease.

Method

Descriptive and cross-sectional study conducted by self-administered questionnaires among a random sample of 455 healthcare professionals of the city of Butembo, eastern DRC.

Results

Healthcare professionals were mostly informed about this epidemic by the radio (72.2%). They were usually aware of the disease etiology (65.3%), contamination modes (78.2%), epidemiological surveillance objectives (89%), but they were much less familiar with its clinical outcome (37.9%) and with contact tracing (44.8%). Adequate attitudes and practices were observed in 44.3% of cases for hygiene and sanitation measures, 64.8% of cases for healthcare-associated infection prevention, and 39.7% of cases for the management of probable cases of EVD.

Conclusion

At the start of an Ebola outbreak, capacity building for epidemiological surveillance, hospital hygiene, and safety of care should be among the first urgent actions to implement.

Le texte complet de cet article est disponible en PDF.

Keywords : Ebola, Epidemic, Infection control