Knowledge, Attitude and Perception of Lassa Fever Among Students of Afe Babalola University
CHAPTER ONE
General objective
To assess knowledge, attitudes and perception of students on Lassa fever in Afe Babalola University.
The specific objectives of study are
- To determine the proportion of students having good knowledge about Lassa fever.
- To determine the proportion of students having good attitudes and good perception in dealing with a suspected case of Lassa fever.
- To identify socio-demographic factors that could influence the KAP of students working in these areas on Lassa fever.
Research Questions
- What is the proportion of students having good knowledge about Lassa fever?
- What is the proportion of students having good attitudes and good perception in dealing with a suspected case of Lassa fever?
- What are the socio-demographic factors that could influence the KAP of students in these faculties on Lassa fever?
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
students are potentially exposed to blood-borne pathogens through contact with infected body parts, blood and body fluids in the course of their work. It has been estimated that each year, as many as 3 million students all over the world experience percutaneous exposure to blood-borne viruses Hepatitis C and B and HIV viruses. Apart from these pathogens, The public health impact of LASV in the West African sub region as an emerging nosocomial transmitted pathogen requires significant response (Ekaete Alice et al., 2018).
Definition
Infection with LASV, a member of the Arenaviridae, results in a spectrum of illness from unapparent infection to Lassa fever, a severe multisystem disease that often has haemorrhagic manifestations (Robinson et al., 2016). Its initial clinical manifestations are difficult to differentiate from those of other common febrile illnesses, such as malaria, and a high index of clinical suspicion is required in the diagnosis (Akhuemokhan et al., 2017).
Historical Account of Lassa Fever
Lassa fever was first described in Sierra Leone in the 1950s but the virus responsible for the disease was not identified until 1969 when two missionary Health Sciences died in Nigeria, West
Africa, and the cause of their illness was found to be LASV, named after the town in Nigeria where the first cases were isolated (Mccormick et al., 2017). Although LASV was identified in 1969, records of haemorrhagic fever (HF) since the 1920s indicate this virus had been circulating for at least 50 years (Zapata & Salvato, 2021). The Health Science presumably acquired infection from an obstetrical patient residing in Lassa. She died approximately one week after the onset of symptoms. Subsequently, two more Health Sciences that attended the first patient contracted the disease, which was later named Lassa fever and caused the death of one of them. Infectious virus (LASV) was isolated from all three cases (Yunusa & Egenti, 2021).
CHAPTER THREE
METHODOLOGY
Study Design
The study design was a descriptive cross-sectional survey among students in 5 faculties in Afe Babalola University.
Study Population
The study population included in 5 faculties in Afe Babalola University. The cadre of students required for the study were doctors, Health Sciences (trained and auxiliary), Engineering, as they were directly involved in clinical patient care or specimen collection.
CHAPTER FOUR
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Results
Socio-demographic characteristics of respondents
The results in table 4.1 below shows the socio-demographic characteristics of respondents. The mean age of students was 25.4 years ± 7.7SD. Females were in the majority 57.4% (112/195). Most of the students were Year two making up 64.6% (126/195) of respondents. Christians were the majority 80.5% (157/195). There were thirty-two Health Sciences (16.4%), fifteen Engineering (7.7%) and twelve social and management sciences (6.2%) thirty eight law students and post graduate students constituted 41.5% of respondents (81/195).
CHAPTER FIVE
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Conclusion
The mean age of students was 25.4 years. The mean number of working years of the health professional was 4.9 years. Females were in the majority. Most of the students were Year two. Christians formed the majority of health professionals. There were 17 doctors 32 Health Sciences, 15 Engineering, 12 midwives, 32 student professionals and 81 other health professionals including pharmacists, physician’s assistants, and Health Science assistants and auxiliary workers.
Sixty-three out of the one hundred and ninety-five respondents (32.3%) had no idea what Lassa fever was. Of the remaining one hundred and thirty-two, 67.7% (132/195) who had heard about Lassa fever, their knowledge was assessed with a sixteen-item questionnaire on knowledge according to case definition. 48.5 % had good knowledge (scored ≥8 out of 16) about Lassa fever (p = 50%; 95% CI = 40% – 60%).
Ninety five out of 100 health professionals were found to have good attitude towards a suspected case of Lassa fever (p = 95%; 95% CI = 91% – 97%).
With regards to practice, all health professionals (100%) had good perception in Prevention and control of infections.
Socio-demographic factors found to be associated with knowledge on Lassa fever were age, Level, faculty, number of working years
The mean age of health professionals who had good knowledge was significantly higher than those with poor knowledge. In that, a unit increase in age significantly increased the odds of having good knowledge
Level was significantly associated with knowledge of Lassa fever amongst health professionals. Year two health professionals had 3.6 times the odds of good knowledge on Lassa fever compared to health professionals who were Year one. This association was still significant after adjusting for other variables. A unit increase in number of working years significantly increased the odds of good knowledge on Lassa fever by 20%. Type of facility, whether general hospital or health centre were significantly associated with knowledge on Lassa fever. Health professionals who were in health centres had significantly 70% reduction of their odds of having good knowledge on Lassa fever as compared to health professionals in general hospital.
None of the socio-demographic factors were found to be significantly associated with health professionals’ attitude on Lassa fever.
Recommendations
- Ministry of Health (MOH), Nigeria should plan more training on Lassa fever with emphasis on other schools.
- The MOH should provide adequate supply of PPE for both urban and rural health facilities to assure there are no shortages at the facilities
- The school health management team should provide health promotion strategies programs on Lassa fever with emphasis on the strategy of strengthening community action to ensure positive KAP towards Lassa fever not only in the facility nit also within the communities.
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