Knowledge, attitude and practice towards prevention and control of Lassa Fever among health workers and residents in Asaba, Delta State.

Name of author(s) and institutions:
Dr. Mininim Oseji
Delta State Ministry of Health/Public Health Impact Research Centre

Dr. Irikefe Obiebi
Delta State University Teaching Hospital Oghara

Dr. Nosa Orhue
Federal Medical Centre, Asaba

Mr. Amos Esievoadje
Public Health Impact Research Centre

Mrs. Joy Mordi
Public Health Impact Research Centre

Dr. Darcy Asogun
Irrua Specialist and Teaching Hospital, Irrua

Mr. Joshua Ekpokpobe
Public Health Impact Research Centre

 
Background : Nigeria has experienced repeated outbreaks of Lassa Fever over the years, with cases reported in Asaba, Delta State as well. A number of measures to prevent and control the spread of Lassa Fever in Delta State have been carried out. This study was conducted to determine the knowledge, attitude and practices of health workers and residents in Asaba towards the prevention and control of Lassa Fever particularly after prevention and control measures had been instituted.

Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive survey was conducted among health workers and residents in Asaba. Self-administered questionnaires was used as the instrument of the study.  All collected data were cleaned, sorted and entered into the spread sheet of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22 for analysis.

Results: A total of 400 completed questionnaires were retrieved with 63.5% of respondents being females and 36.5% males. 85.5% of respondents were aware that rats were the vectors of Lassa Fever, but only 10.3% knew that Ribavirin was the drug of choice for treatment of the condition.  64.3% of the study population indicated they bagged their waste at home, and 55.7% did that at work. 21.5% of the subjects claimed they had been bitten by a rat, while 76% said they soak and drink garri. 41.9% of health workers said they do not know what they should do if they came into contact with a suspected or confirmed case of Lassa Fever and only 19.3% said they used Personal Protective Equipment at work.

Conclusions: The findings suggest that practices of health workers and residents in Asaba puts many of them at high risk of contacting Lassa Fever.

Recommendation: Stricter enforcement of control measures on a long term  basis is required to achieve positive behaviour change with regards to prevention and control of Lassa Fever.