Health literacy and preparedness of health workers in the private health sector towards the COVID-19 pandemic: Need for integration into the nationwide response

The private health sector has the potential to participate in the COVID-19 pandemic response. The study aimed to assess the health literacy, perceptions, practices, willingness to participate and opportunities for engagement of the private health sector in the COVID-19 response. A cross-sectional survey was carried out among health workers in private health facilities in Edo Central and Edo North Senatorial districts of Edo state between May and June 2020. Data were collected using pre-tested questionnaires and analysis carried out using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS). Chi-square test of significance and logistic regression were applied at 5% cut off. A total of 153 health workers participated giving a response rate of 75.0%. Eighty-eight (57.5%) respondents had good knowledge of COVID-19 and 80 (52.3%) held negative perceptions towards COVID-19. Ninety-five (62.1%) respondents believed private health facilities had a role to play in the response particularly in the area of suspected case screening (85.4%). Thirty-one (20.3%) respondents indicated their willingness to participate in the COVID-19 response if their facilities were invited to. Sixty-one (39.9%) and 92 (60.1%) respondents respectively held poor and good practices towards COVID- 19 prevention, with practice significantly associated with educational level (χ2 = 14.10, P < 0.01), profession (χ2 = 15.28, P = 0.01). and previous training in infection prevention and control (IPC) (χ2 = 18.16, P < 0.01). The resources available from the private sector to support the response can be harnessed through engagements with medical directors and health workers in the sector to identify areas of collaboration, address identified gaps in knowledge, improve perception and participation.

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KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDE TOWARDS ANTHRAX AT THE ANTHRAX BELT SIRAJGONJ DISTRICT IN BANGLADESH

Journal of Veterinary Medical and One Health Research ◽

10.36111/jvmohr.2020.2(2).0023 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 2 (2) ◽

Author(s):

M. M. Rahman ◽

M. S. Hossain ◽

M. S. Haque ◽

M. R. Nabi ◽

M. G. Morshed ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Questionnaire Survey ◽

Health Workers ◽

Negative Impact ◽

Smallholder Farmers ◽

Clinical Signs ◽

Zoonotic Diseases ◽

Infection Prevention And Control ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Survey Knowledge

Background: Anthrax is one of the most important endemic zoonotic diseases due to its negative impact on the smallholder farmers associated with mortality in livestock and disease in humans in Bangladesh. Objective: The main objective of this investigation was to assess the extent of knowledge, awareness, attitude and practices addressing anthrax in animals and humans in the communities of Bangladesh Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted in the ‘anthrax belt’ Sirajgonj district where several anthrax outbreaks have been reported in both the livestock and humans. A total of 26 household were selected randomly for sampling from each of four villages during the period from August to December 2013. A total of 104 adult respondents participated in the questionnaire survey and the data were calculated by using the formula 4 pq/d2 and Chi-square test using software. Results: Result shows that 55.8% of the community respondents had knowledge of anthrax, while 44.2% of them did not. Analysis of anthrax cases record obtained from respondents showed 49.8% animals, 44.0% humans and 6.2% birds affected with this disease. Only 18.3 to 28.2% respondents knew the clinical signs cutaneous, gastro-intestinal and pulmonary forms, whereas 13.3 to 25.5% respondents knew more than one transmission routes in animals and humans. A certain percentage (2.9 to 16.8% & 8.9 to 20.9%) of community people obtained information on the outbreaks of anthrax in animals and humans from communication media, NGO workers and community health workers. Conclusions: The knowledge on anthrax of the participants was low with no consistent understanding of the disease. The educated family members in farming practices could improve the awareness and knowledge towards zoonotic diseases including anthrax. These findings could be useful for the decision makers to build technical capacity of veterinary medical services and to foster a ‘One Health’ approach especially a continued infection prevention and control training program for animal owners and local residents with close surveillance and reporting, burying or cremation of dead animal carcasses and decontamination and disinfection procedures as well as immunization of animals against anthrax to prevent the infection in endemic areas. Keywords: Anthrax, Bangladesh, Questionnaire survey, Knowledge, Attitude, Anthrax belt district

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Emergency nurse’s perceptions of hospital facility support and disaster preparedness

International Journal of Public Health Science (IJPHS) ◽

10.11591/ijphs.v9i4.20507 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (4) ◽

pp. 347

Author(s):

Dewa Gede Sanjaya Putra ◽

Kuswantoro Rusca Putra ◽

Noorhamdani AS

Keyword(s):

Disaster Preparedness ◽

Assessment Tool ◽

Health Workers ◽

Health Sector ◽

Rank Test ◽

P Value ◽

Evaluation Tool ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Hospital Facility

Disasters cause material losses, morbidity, and deaths. Support for the role of hospitals and health workers, especially nurses, is needed to reduce the number of victims in each disaster. Using a cross-sectional survey design, this study aims to analyze the relationship between nurse’s perceptions of hospital facility support and disaster preparedness. One hundred sixty seven respondents were selected using proportional random sampling. Disaster preparedness evaluation tool (DPET) was used to assess the participants’ readiness, and the Health Sector Self-Assessment Tool for Disaster Risk Reduction was used to assess nurse’s perceptions of hospital facility support. The final results of the analysis using the Spearman Rank test showed a significant correlation between hospital infrastructure support and emergency nurse’s preparedness in disaster preparedness with a p-value (0.00). The higher the nurse’s perceptions of hospital facility support, the higher their preparedness in disaster management is. Strengthening guidelines of disaster planning in hospitals, especially regarding the ability of hospitals to overcome the impacts of disasters, will provide optimal support for emergency nurses during a disaster crisis.

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Capacity to provide care for common childhood infections at low-level private health facilities in Western, Uganda

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0257851 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (10) ◽

pp. e0257851

Author(s):

Juliet Mwanga-Amumpaire ◽

Grace Ndeezi ◽

Karin Källander ◽

Celestino Obua ◽

Richard Migisha ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Bacterial Infections ◽

Treatment Guidelines ◽

Health Workers ◽

Health Facilities ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Oral Rehydration ◽

Low Level ◽

Childhood Illnesses ◽

Childhood Infections

Background Low-level private health facilities (LLPHFs) handle a considerable magnitude of sick children in low-resource countries. We assessed capacity of LLPHFs to manage malaria, pneumonia, diarrhea, and, possible severe bacterial infections (PSBIs) in under-five-year-olds. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional survey in 110 LLPHFs and 129 health workers in Mbarara District, Uganda between May and December 2019. Structured questionnaires and observation forms were used to collect data on availability of treatment guidelines, vital medicines, diagnostics, and equipment; health worker qualifications; and knowledge of management of common childhood infections. Results Amoxicillin was available in 97%, parental ampicillin and gentamicin in 77%, zinc tablets and oral rehydration salts in >90% while artemether-lumefantrine was available in 96% of LLPHF. About 66% of facilities stocked loperamide, a drug contraindicated in the management of diarrhoea in children. Malaria rapid diagnostic tests and microscopes were available in 86% of the facilities, timers/clocks in 57% but only 19% of the facilities had weighing scales and 6% stocked oxygen. Only 4% of the LLPHF had integrated management of childhood illness (IMCI) booklets and algorithm charts for management of common childhood illnesses. Of the 129 health workers, 52% were certificate nurses/midwives and (26% diploma nurses/clinical officers; 57% scored averagely for knowledge on management of common childhood illnesses. More than a quarter (38%) of nursing assistants had low knowledge scores. No notable significant differences existed between rural and urban LLPHFs in most parameters assessed. Conclusion Vital first-line medicines for treatment of common childhood illnesses were available in most of the LLPHFs but majority lacked clinical guidelines and very few had oxygen. Majority of health workers had low to average knowledge on management of the common childhood illnesses. There is need for innovative knowledge raising interventions in LLPHFs including refresher trainings, peer support supervision and provision of job aides.

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Patient Satisfaction with Healthcare at a Tertiary Hospital in Northern Malawi: Results from a Triangulated Cross-sectional Survey

10.21203/rs.3.rs-1076970/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Frank Watson Sinyiza ◽

Paul Uchizi Kaseka ◽

Master Rodgers Chisale ◽

Chikondi Sharon Chimbatata ◽

Balwani Chingatichifwe Mbakaya ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Patient Satisfaction ◽

Health Workers ◽

Health Sector ◽

Likert Scale ◽

Tertiary Hospital ◽

Health Coverage ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Satisfaction With Services

Abstract BackgroundIn 2016 the Malawi government embarked on several interrelated health sector reforms aimed at improving the quality of health services at all levels of care and attain Universal Health Coverage by 2030. Patient satisfaction with services is an important proxy measure of quality. We assessed patient satisfaction at a tertiary hospital in Northern Malawi to understand the current state in the country. MethodsWe conducted exit interviews with patients aged18 years and above using a 28 statement interviewer administered questionnaire. Patients were asked to express their level of agreement to the statements on a five-point Likert scale – strongly disagree to strongly agree, corresponding to scores of 1 to 5. Overall patient satisfaction was calculated by summing up the scores and diving the sum by the number of statements. Scores >3 constituted satisfaction while scores ≤3 constituted dissatisfaction. Patient self-rated satisfaction was determined from a single statement that asked patients to rate their satisfaction with services on a five-point Likert scale. We also solicited inputs from patients on aspects of hospital care that needed improvement. Responses were reviewed and grouped into themes. Recurring themes are presented according to frequencies.ResultsOverall patient satisfaction was 8.4% (95% CI: 5.2% - 12.9%). Patient self-rated satisfaction was 8.9% (95% CI: 5.5% - 13.4%). Patients raised six major issues that dampened their healthcare seeking experience including health workers reporting late to work, doctors not listening to patients concerns and neither examining them properly nor explaining the diagnosis, shortage of medicines, diagnostics and medical equipment, unprofessional conduct of health workers, poor sanitation and cleanliness, and health workers behaviour of favouring or priotising their relatives and friends over other patients.ConclusionWe found very low levels of patient satisfaction, suggesting that quality of services in the public health sector is still low. It is therefore critical to accelerate and innovate the Ministry of Health’s quality improvement initiatives to attain Malawi’s health goals.

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Health Literacy Knowledge and Experiences of Nursing Students at a South African University

Africa Journal of Nursing and Midwifery ◽

10.25159/2520-5293/3205 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Francisca Mibei ◽

Felicity Daniels

Keyword(s):

Health Literacy ◽

Nursing Students ◽

Health Workers ◽

Economic Status ◽

Average Score ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Future Health ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Low Health Literacy ◽

Literacy Knowledge

A worldwide high prevalence of low health literacy has been reported, and despite the emergence of health literacy as a better determinant of health than socio-economic status, it is alarming that little attention is being accorded to training health workers on health literacy practices. This study thus sought to describe the health literacy knowledge and experiences of nursing students gained during training in order to establish a basis that will inform future health literacy training. A descriptive cross-sectional survey was carried out using a questionnaire to establish the health literacy knowledge and experience of 82 nursing students. Data were analysed using descriptive as well as inferential statistics. The students exhibited unsatisfactory health literacy knowledge as measured by the questionnaire, with an average score of 73 per cent, with knowledge gaps in some areas – for example with regard to the effect of low health literacy on patient health outcomes and identification of patients with low health literacy. Their health literacy experience was also lacking, with students only reporting some experience in the use of written materials in providing patient education. The results portray that the emphasis of health literacy in the curriculum failed to have a sufficient effect on health literacy knowledge.

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Organizational Rewards and Performance of Health Centre IV Workers in Greater Mbarara District, Uganda

10.21203/rs.3.rs-78693/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Johnson Atwiine ◽

Gershom Atukunda ◽

Wycliffe Tumwesigye ◽

Justus Asasira

Keyword(s):

Policy Development ◽

Health Workers ◽

Health Centre ◽

Health Sector ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Health Practitioners ◽

Health Centres ◽

Private Health Sector ◽

Organizational Rewards ◽

And Performance

Abstract PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to study relationship between organizational rewards, andperformance of Health Centre IV workers in greater Mbarara District.MethodsThis study used cross-sectional, explanatory and correlational approaches, and it utilised healthcenter IV’s workers’ data that were collected by using a questionnaire survey from a sample of 200 healthworkers from 11 health centres from greater Mbarara district.FindingsResults revealed that rewards, were significantly associated with health workers’ performances.Contrary to previous thinking, organizational rewards and constructs do not significantly predict healthworkers’ performance. Once health centre IV’s have appropriate reward strategies for their health workersin health facilities, they are likely to work hard by meeting deadlines, being available at their work stationand they would eventually enhance on job performance.Research limitations/implicationsThis study focuses on rewards, and performance of health workers’ inhealth centres iv in greater Mbarara and it is possible that these results are only applicable to the publichealth centres iv in greater Mbarara. More research is therefore needed to further understand the relationshipbetween rewards, and performance of health workers in other sectors such as the private health sector andin other areas of the country like northern, central and eastern Uganda.Practical implicationsThe results are important for health policy development and implementation, forexample, in terms of primary health care and reporting lines for the health workers so as to enhance on theirperformance in public health sector.Originality/valueAs far as the authors are aware, no research has hitherto been undertaken thatinvestigates the relationship between reward practices on health workers’ performance in health centres IVin greater Mbarara district. Thus the results of this study will provide health practitioners with better insightsin some reward practices that could be adopted by government/health practitioners so as to improve theperformance of health centres IV workers.Paper typeResearch paper

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Missed Opportunities in Tuberculosis Investigation and Associated Factors at Public Health Facilities in Uganda

10.21203/rs.3.rs-124193/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Keith Kakame ◽

Noel Namuhani ◽

Andrew Kazibwe ◽

Felix Bongomin ◽

Joseph Baluku ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Health Workers ◽

Health Facilities ◽

World Health ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Prevalence Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Missed Opportunities ◽

Public Health Facilities ◽

Factors Associated

Abstract BackgroundThe incidence of tuberculosis (TB) is high in Uganda; yet, TB case detection is low. A recent national TB prevalence survey revealed that only 16% of presumptive TB patients seeking care at health facilities were offered sputum microscopy or chest-X ray (CXR). The objective of this study was to determine the magnitude of, and patient factors associated with missed opportunities in TB investigation at public health facilities of Wakiso District in Uganda.MethodsA facility-based cross-sectional survey was conducted at 10 high volume public health facilities offering comprehensive TB services in Wakiso, Uganda, among adults (≥18 years) with at least one symptom suggestive of TB predefined according to World Health Organisation criteria. Using exit interviews, data on demographics, TB symptoms, and clinical data relevant to TB were collected. A missed opportunity in TB investigation was defined as a patient with symptoms suggestive of TB who did not have sputum and/or CXR evaluation to rule out TB. Poisson regression analysis was performed to determine factors associated with missed opportunities in TB investigation using STATA 14.ResultsTwo hundred forty seven presumptive TB patients were recruited into this study exiting at antiretroviral therapy (ART) clinics (n=132) or general outpatient clinics (n=115) at public health facilities. Majority of participants were females (161/247, 65.2%) and the mean +SD age was 35.1 + 11.5 years. Sputum and/or CXR were not requested from 138 (55.9%) patients with symptoms suggestive of TB disease. Patients who did not inform health workers about TB related symptoms were more likely to miss a TB investigation (adjusted prevalence ratio: 1.68, 95%CI; 1.36-2.08, P<0.001). Conclusion; A large proportion of patients with symptoms suggestive of TB did not have sputum and/ or CXR requested for investigation. Patients who did not inform health workers about their TB related symptoms were more likely to miss having sputum and/ or CXR requested. We recommend studies to explore barriers and facilitators of disclosure of TB symptoms to enable formulation of effective interventions to empower people to improve likelihood of disclosing TB related symptoms.

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Missed opportunities in tuberculosis investigation and associated factors at public health facilities in Uganda

BMC Health Services Research ◽

10.1186/s12913-021-06368-6 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Keith Twirire Kakame ◽

Noel Namuhani ◽

Andrew Kazibwe ◽

Felix Bongomin ◽

Joseph Baruch Baluku ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Health Workers ◽

Prevalence Ratio ◽

Health Facilities ◽

World Health ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Missed Opportunities ◽

Public Health Facilities ◽

Factors Associated

Abstract Background The incidence of tuberculosis (TB) is high in Uganda; yet, TB case detection is low. The population-based survey on the prevalence of TB in Uganda revealed that only 16% of presumptive TB patients seeking care at health facilities were offered sputum microscopy or chest-X ray (CXR). This study aimed to determine the magnitude of, and patient factors associated with missed opportunities in TB investigation at public health facilities of Wakiso District in Uganda. Methods A facility-based cross-sectional survey was conducted at 10 high volume public health facilities offering comprehensive TB services in Wakiso, Uganda, among adults (≥18 years) with at least one symptom suggestive of TB predefined according to the World Health Organisation criteria. Using exit interviews, data on demographics, TB symptoms, and clinical data relevant to TB diagnosis were collected. A missed opportunity in TB investigation was defined as a patient with symptoms suggestive of TB who did not have sputum and/or CXR evaluation to rule out TB. Poisson regression analysis was performed to determine factors associated with missed opportunities in TB investigation. Results Two hundred forty-seven (247) patients with presumptive TB exiting at antiretroviral therapy (ART) clinics (n = 132) or general outpatient clinics (n = 115) at public health facilities were recruited into this study. Majority of participants were female (161/247, 65.2%) with a mean + SD age of 35.1 + 11.5 years. Overall, 138 (55.9%) patients with symptoms suggestive of TB disease did not have sputum and/or CXR examinations. Patients who did not inform health workers about their TB related symptoms were more likely to miss a TB investigation (adjusted prevalence ratio (aPR): 1.68, 95%CI; 1.36–2.08, P < 0.001). However, patients who reported duration of cough of 2 weeks or more were less likely to be missed for TB screening (aPR; 0.69, 95%CI; 0.56–0.86, p < 0.001). Conclusion There are substantial missed opportunities for TB diagnosis in Wakiso District. While it is important that patients should be empowered to report symptoms, health workers need to proactively implement the WHO TB symptom screen tool and complete the subsequent steps in the TB diagnostic cascade.

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The Quality of Service Provision to Newborns in the Primary Healthcare, West Gojjam Zone, North-West of Ethiopia: A Cross-sectional Survey

10.21203/rs.3.rs-418760/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Bizuhan Gelaw Birhanu ◽

Johanna Mmabojalwa Mathibe-Neke

Keyword(s):

Rural Health ◽

Health Workers ◽

Newborn Care ◽

Health Facilities ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Signal Functions ◽

Rural Health Centres ◽

Health Centres

Abstract Background: During 2019, neonatal conditions in Ethiopia accounted for 56% of under-5 deaths, with 33 neonatal deaths occurring for every 1,000 live births. More than 80% of all newborns deaths are caused by preventable and treatable conditions with available interventions. In Ethiopia, mortality rates for newborn babies have remained stubbornly high over the decades. Methods: A cross-sectional survey design was employed. Interviewer-administered questionnaires were administered to 221 health workers and health extension workers in 142 health facilities from April to July 2017. Data was entered in the EpiData 3.1, exported to SPSS and STATA for analysis. Results: Out of the ten quality of newborn care variables, 8.7 [95%CI: 6.03-11.303], the highest mean was achieved by primary hospitals, followed by urban health centres with a 6.4 mean [95%CI:5.168-7.601]. However, nearly half of the rural health centres were providing quality of newborn care at the mean of 5.7 [95%CI: 5.152-6.18], and below half was provided by health posts, 4.5 [95%CI: 3.867-5.116]. From the seven emergency newborn care signal functions, primary hospitals had a higher mean score, 6.3 [95%CI: 6.007-7.325] and rural health centres had a lowest mean score, 2.3 [95%CI: 2.043-2.623]. The availability of essential equipment is also significantly associated with the quality of neonatal care provision in the health facilities (p < 0.05). Overall, the effectiveness of the neonatal healthcare services has a significant association with the health facilitates readiness score [95%CI: 0.134-0.768]. Conclusion: The quality of newborn care was high at the higher-level health facilities and lower in the lower level health facilities such as rural health centres and health posts; where these facilities are designed to provide the newborn care services to the majority of the rural communities. In addition, the provision of emergency newborn care signal functions were critically low in rural health centres where these are a referral receiving health facilities from health posts. Thus, the rural health centres and health posts should be targeted to improve their readiness to provide the quality of services for newborns as per their expected level of care.

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Current situation of health workers' knowledge and practice on safe motherhood at public health facilities of Ninh Binh province in 2019

Tạp chí Y học Cộng đồng ◽

10.52163/jcm.v62i2.57 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 62 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Phạm Văn Dậu ◽

Phạm Cẩm Kỳ ◽

Bùi Thị Hương

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Health Workers ◽

Blood Pressure Measurement ◽

Health Facilities ◽

Safe Motherhood ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Public Health Facilities ◽

Danger Signs ◽

Breast Examination

Objective: To assess knowledge and practices on safe motherhood of mothers giving birth at public health facilities of Ninh Binh province in 2019. Subjects: Health workers working at public health facilities of the province. Rearch method: Descriptive cross-sectional survey. Results:When asked about the danger signs of mothers after giving birth that need to be monitored, the highest percentage is prolonged bleeding (94.3%), the lowest is prolonged abdominal pain (70.7%). In full body examination, the percentage of health workers who practiced correctly was found the lowest for cardiopulmonary examination (49.0%), breast examination (58.0%), and the highest for blood pressure measurement (91.7%). Conclusion: The rate of health workers having correct knowledge on safe motherhood was not high. The rate of health workers having correct practice on prenatal check-up steps and asking steps ranged from 68.2% to 94.3%.

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