Knowledge, Attitude and Perception of Lassa Fever Among Students of Afe Babalola University
CHAPTER FIVE
5.0 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
5.1 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.
5.2 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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