Healthcare facilities’ level of preparedness response on COVID-19 preventive measures in selected regions of Tanzania: A perspective of healthcare workers

Abstract

Background: After the first patient of COVID-19 was announced by the Ministry of Health in Tanzania from Arusha region, the hottest discussion in the community was the fear on how our health facilities were prepared against the spread of coronavirus disease. Objective and significance: This study aims at assessing healthcare facilities level of preparedness response on preventive measures against COVID-19 in selected regions of Tanzania through the contributions of healthcare workers. This study will add value in building capacity to fight COVID-19 pandemic and possibly any other pandemic of similar significance in the future. Methods: Analytical cross-sectional study design which applied quantitative research strategy was conducted from August to October 2022. A total of 596 healthcare workers were involved in the study from 40 healthcare facilities in Dar es Salaam, Mwanza, Arusha, and Dodoma regions of Tanzania. Descriptive statistics were analyzed by a statistical package SPSS version 26 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY) giving frequencies, percentages, and significant association between variables. Results: Overall level of preparedness was poor at 52%, only 25% of preventive measures were good prepared and 23% moderately prepared. Availability of hand washing station with soap and water to ensure hand hygiene for healthcare workers was most prepared by 87.1% while designated ambulance facility for transporting patients from isolation area to other COVID-19 referral facilities was less prepared by 30.4% in this study. Conclusion: The preparedness responses was poor in selected regions of Tanzania which cause less capacity to fight against COVID-19 whenever it emerges.

Factors Influencing Knowledge Level of COVID-19 among Healthcare Workers: A Cross-sectional Survey in Four Regions of Tanzania

“…Another study conducted in Tanzania strengthened that, overall level of preparedness was poor at 52%, only 25% of preventive measures were good prepared and 23% moderately prepared in which regular training among healthcare workers was poorly implemented, then concluded that poor preparedness responses in Tanzania may cause less capacity to fight against COVID-19 whenever it emerges. 23 Therefore, the results shows a direct relationship between poor preparedness responses and moderate knowledge reported by this current study.…”

Biosafety in the praxis of nursing personnel during and after the pandemic: a systematic review

“…(19) En la actualidad no es fácil luchar contra el COVID-19 de manera eficaz y eficiente si la enfermedad continúa apareciendo, pues la situación podría empeorar las instalaciones sanitarias debido a sistemas de salud que no son capaces de dar respuestas preparadas, y que en este momento son bastante limitadas; esto porque muchas de las medidas implementadas fueron suspendidas al menguar la crisis originada por la pandemia. (36) En función de la revisión realizada se recomienda que las normas de bioseguridad que fueron aplicadas en el pasado sean mejoradas y actualizadas, brindando una formación constante a la totalidad del personal, en especial a las enfermeras, pues son quienes brindan el apoyo necesario tanto a médicos como a pacientes.…”