Assessing the Extent of Knowledge of Lassa Fever Infection and Its Prevention and Control Practices among Healthcare Workers in Anambra State, Nigeria

Anetoh Maureen, U.¹, Ubeh Chizoba, N.², Adenola Ugochi, A.¹, Ajagu Nnenna³, Ofomata Janefrances, C.⁴, Akunne Maureen⁵, Ogbonna Brian, O.^1,6*, Nduka Sunday, O.¹

¹Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Management, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka Nigeria
²Pharmacy Department, General Hospital Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria
³Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Biopharmaceutics, Enugu State University of Science and Technology Enugu State Nigeria
⁴Department of Public Health, University of Leeds, United Kingdom
⁵Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Management, University of Nigeria Nsukka, Nigeria
⁶Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, King David University of Medical Sciences, Uburu, Nigeria

Dr. Ogbonna Brian, O., Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Management, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, & Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy

Keywords: Lassa Fever (LF); Knowledge; Infection Prevention and Control; Healthcare Workers; Nigeria

Abstract

Background: The menace caused by Lassa fever infection, especially in West Africa, keeps increasing, and hospitals are the key areas to escalate the spread of the virus. There is an urgent need to have knowledgeable healthcare teams with the right attitude and competencies to prevent, diagnose, refer and treat patients with Lassa fever and manage an outbreak effectively. This study thus assessed the knowledge of Lassa fever infection and its prevention and control practices among the healthcare workers in Anambra State, Nigeria.

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