Risk Perception and Lassa Fever Prevention and Control Practices Among Healthcare Workers in a Tertiary Institution in Southeast, Nigeria

Abstract

Background. Lassa fever infections occurring in healthcare workers are predominantly hospital-acquired. This is due to poor infection prevention and control practices among health workers, low level of risk perception and late presentation to hospital for diagnosis and treatment by the patients, inadequate supply of personal protective equipment and lack of training of healthcare workers on infection prevention and control practices. Objective: To determine the risk perception of healthcare workers to Lassa fever and to assess the practice of Lassa fever prevention and control among healthcare workers in the institution. Methodology. Self-administered questionnaire to the doctors and nurses working at the entry points of the institution were used for data collection to assess the risk perception and infection prevention and control (IPC) practices. Data collected were analyzed using Epi- Info version 7.0. Results: The risk perception for Lassa fever among the doctors and nurses in the institution was found to be high with the mean rating (MNR) for all the parameters assessed found to be above 3.0 with the question: “if you develop fever after being exposed to a suspected Lassa fever patient what do you do”? having the highest mean rating of 4.92. Conclusion: The risk perception of the healthcare workers for Lassa fever was found to be good and should be sustained. However, the practice of Lassa fever prevention and control was not optimal.