Hamid Kabir M, Yusuf Ibrahim, Onoja Bernard A, Koki Abdullahi Y
Department of Immunology, School of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto, Nigeria.
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of science, Bayero University Kano, Nigeria.
J Virus Erad. 2018 Jan 1;4(1):1-5. doi: 10.1016/S2055-6640(20)30233-8.
Ebola virus disease (EVD) in West Africa was an enormous public health challenge. Nigeria was able to contain the spread of the virus with a concerted effort and an effective public health response in terms of identification of contacts, rapid laboratory diagnosis, quarantine and symptomatic treatment. We determined the knowledge, attitude and practice of medical laboratory practitioners (MLPs) in this post-Ebola epidemic era.
This cross-sectional study was carried out in eight hospitals in Kano State for 6 months, between January and June 2016. It involved medical laboratory scientists (MLS), medical laboratory technicians (MLT) and medical laboratory assistants (MLA). Questionnaires were administered and analysed.
Of the 75 participants, mean knowledge score was 5.54 (standard deviation [SD] ±1.44) while the mean attitude score was 13.72 ±2.80, and mean practice score was 3.10 ±0.80. Mean age of participants was 36.82 ± 8.07 years. There was full awareness of EVD among all 75 participants; however, many medical laboratory practitioners (52.7%) did not know EVD prevention methods. The majority (86.1%) knew the source of disease outbreak and most MLPs (66.7%) practised improper hand washing to prevent Ebola transmission. In addition, they had a negative attitude and practice towards EVD. Of 71 MLPs, 52 (73.2%) strongly disagreed that a traditional remedy was preferable in EVD treatment.
Fear of EVD among MLPs has declined.
西非的埃博拉病毒病（EVD）是一项巨大的公共卫生挑战。尼日利亚通过共同努力以及在接触者识别、快速实验室诊断、隔离和对症治疗方面采取有效的公共卫生应对措施，成功遏制了病毒的传播。我们确定了在埃博拉疫情后时代医学检验从业者（MLP）的知识、态度和实践情况。
这项横断面研究于2016年1月至6月在卡诺州的八家医院进行了6个月。研究对象包括医学检验科学家（MLS）、医学检验技术员（MLT）和医学检验助理（MLA）。研究人员发放并分析了调查问卷。
75名参与者的平均知识得分为5.54（标准差[SD]±1.44），平均态度得分为13.72±2.80，平均实践得分为3.10±0.80。参与者的平均年龄为36.82±8.07岁。所有75名参与者都对埃博拉病毒病有充分认识；然而，许多医学检验从业者（52.7%）不知道埃博拉病毒病的预防方法。大多数人（86.1%）知道疾病爆发的源头，并且大多数医学检验从业者（66.7%）在预防埃博拉病毒传播时洗手方法不当。此外，他们对埃博拉病毒病持消极态度且实践不当。在71名医学检验从业者中，52人（73.2%）强烈反对在埃博拉病毒病治疗中使用传统疗法。
医学检验从业者对埃博拉病毒病的恐惧有所下降。
