Daka Victor, Mukosha Moses, Matafwali Scott K, Mudenda Steward, Phiri Andrew M
Department of Clinical Studies, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia.
Public Health Department, School of Medicine, Copperbelt University, Ndola, Zambia.
PLOS Glob Public Health. 2023 Aug 15;3(8):e0002235. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0002235. eCollection 2023.
Assessing the knowledge and practices of healthcare workers regarding Toxoplasma gondii infection, diagnosis, treatment, and control is crucial for developing an effective management strategy.
A cross-sectional study was conducted among 175 healthcare workers at Ndola Teaching Hospital and Namwala District Hospital in Zambia from September 2021 to April 2022.
More than half (57.1%) of the respondents were males. Overall, 46(26.3%) and 68 (38.9%) respondents reported good knowledge and practices, respectively. Respondents with a higher number of years of experience (AOR = 0.86, 95% CI: 0.77-0.97), who were nurses than clinicians (AOR = 0.17, 95% CI: 0.007-0.41) and working at Ndola teaching hospital than Namwala hospital (AOR = 0.34, 95% CI:0.13-0.89) were less likely to have good knowledge. Respondents with a degree qualification than a diploma (AOR = 3.04, 95% CI: 1.09-8.47) were more likely to have good knowledge. Respondents from Ndola teaching hospital than Namwala hospital (AOR = 0.40, 95% CI: 0.17-0.92) were less likely to have good practices.
Our study revealed that healthcare workers had low levels of knowledge and poor practices, which could have negative implications for the management of toxoplasmosis. To improve their knowledge and practices, continuous medical education in Toxoplasma related aspects is recommended for in-service healthcare workers.
评估医护人员关于弓形虫感染、诊断、治疗和控制的知识与实践，对于制定有效的管理策略至关重要。
2021年9月至2022年4月，在赞比亚恩多拉教学医院和纳姆瓦拉区医院对175名医护人员进行了一项横断面研究。
超过一半（57.1%）的受访者为男性。总体而言，分别有46名（26.3%）和68名（38.9%）受访者报告具有良好的知识和实践。经验年限较多的受访者（调整后比值比[AOR]=0.86，95%置信区间[CI]：0.77-0.97）、护士而非临床医生（AOR=0.17，95%CI：0.007-0.41）以及在恩多拉教学医院工作而非纳姆瓦拉医院工作的受访者（AOR=0.34，95%CI：0.13-0.89）具备良好知识的可能性较小。具有学位资格而非文凭的受访者（AOR=3.04，95%CI：1.09-8.47）具备良好知识的可能性更大。来自恩多拉教学医院而非纳姆瓦拉医院的受访者（AOR=0.40，95%CI：0.17-0.92）具有良好实践的可能性较小。
我们的研究表明，医护人员的知识水平较低且实践较差，这可能对弓形虫病的管理产生负面影响。为提高他们的知识和实践，建议对在职医护人员进行关于弓形虫相关方面的持续医学教育。
