Ngozi Ekeke1, Anthony O Meka1, Joseph N Chukwu1, Charles C Nwafor1, Chukwuka Alphonsus1, Obinna K Mbah1, Nelson O Madichie2, Ufuoma Aduh3, Matthew Ogbeifo3, Bola O IseOluwa-Adelokiki4, Joseph E Edochie5, Joseph Ushaka6, Kingsley N Ukwaja7. 1. Medical Department, German Leprosy and Tuberculosis Relief Association, Enugu State. 2. St Leo Hospital Enugu, Enugu State. 3. Delta State Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Buruli Ulcer Control Programme, Delta State. 4. Ogun State Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Buruli Ulcer Control Programme, Ogun State. 5. Anambra State Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Buruli Ulcer Control Programme, Anambra State. 6. Cross River State Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Buruli Ulcer Control Programme, Cross River State. 7. Department of Medicine, Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria.
Abstract
Background: Poor knowledge of health care workers may be responsible for the under-diagnosis and low notification of Buruli ulcer (BU) in high-burden settings. This study assessed health care workers' knowledge, attitude and risk perception of BU in Southern Nigeria. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey among 186 health care workers recruited from 58 health facilities in four states of Southern Nigeria. A semi-structured interviewer-administered questionnaire was administered to all participants. Results: The overall mean knowledge score was 8.8±2.7 (maximum 15). Only 29.0% (54/186) of the respondents had a good knowledge of BU. The mean (SD) attitude score was 4.5±1.2 (maximum 6). Also, 61.3% (114/) of the respondents had a good attitude towards BU. The overall mean (SD) risk perception score was 2.6±1.3 (maximum 5). Only 26.3% (49/) of the respondents had a good risk perception of BU disease. Previous training was an independent predictor of good knowledge (aOR 4.6), good attitude (aOR 3.8) and good risk perception (aOR 2.9) to BU. Conclusions: Health care workers in endemic settings of Nigeria have poor knowledge of and poor risk perception of BU disease. Training of health care workers is recommended to address the identified gaps to ensure earlier diagnosis and referral to specialist centres.
Background: Poor knowledge of health care workers may be responsible for the under-diagnosis and low notification of Buruli ulcer (BU) in high-burden settings. This study assessed health care workers' knowledge, attitude and risk perception of BU in Southern Nigeria. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey among 186 health care workers recruited from 58 health facilities in four states of Southern Nigeria. A semi-structured interviewer-administered questionnaire was administered to all participants. Results: The overall mean knowledge score was 8.8±2.7 (maximum 15). Only 29.0% (54/186) of the respondents had a good knowledge of BU. The mean (SD) attitude score was 4.5±1.2 (maximum 6). Also, 61.3% (114/) of the respondents had a good attitude towards BU. The overall mean (SD) risk perception score was 2.6±1.3 (maximum 5). Only 26.3% (49/) of the respondents had a good risk perception of BU disease. Previous training was an independent predictor of good knowledge (aOR 4.6), good attitude (aOR 3.8) and good risk perception (aOR 2.9) to BU. Conclusions: Health care workers in endemic settings of Nigeria have poor knowledge of and poor risk perception of BU disease. Training of health care workers is recommended to address the identified gaps to ensure earlier diagnosis and referral to specialist centres.
Authors: Kingsley N Ukwaja; Chukwuka Alphonsus; Chinwe C Eze; Linda Lehman; Ngozi Ekeke; Charles C Nwafor; Joy Ikebudu; Moses C Anyim; Joseph N Chukwu Journal: PLoS Negl Trop Dis Date: 2020-04-30
Authors: Ogonna N O Nwankwo; Ndubuisi Mokogwu; Orighomisan Agboghoroma; Fahmi O Ahmed; Kevin Mortimer Journal: PLoS One Date: 2018-01-29 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Charles Chukwunalu Nwafor; Anthony Meka; Joseph Ngozi Chukwu; Ngozi Ekeke; Chukwuka Alphonsus; Obinna Mbah; Nelson Okechukwu Madichie; Ufuoma Aduh; Matthew Ogbeifo; Bola Olubakin IseOluwa-Adelokiki; Joseph Ezebunafor Edochie; Joseph Ushaka; Kingsley Nnanna Ukwaja Journal: Afr Health Sci Date: 2019-06 Impact factor: 0.927