Knowledge, attitude and practices of COVID-19 among medical laboratory professionals in Zambia

Abstract

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a novel disease that has spread to nearly every country worldwide. Medical laboratory professionals are key in the fight against COVID-19 as they provide confirmatory diagnosis for subsequent management and mitigation of the disease.Objective: This study investigated the knowledge, attitude and practices of COVID-19 and their predictors among medical laboratory personnel in Zambia.Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study among medical laboratory professionals in Zambia from 10 to 29 June 2020. Data were collected using Google Forms and exported to Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 23 for statistical analysis. Independent predictors of COVID-19 knowledge and practices were determined. Adjusted odds ratios (AOR) and their 95% confidence intervals (CI) are reported.Results: A total of 208 medical laboratory professionals, 58.2% male, participated in the study. The majority of respondents had good knowledge (84.1%) and practice (75.0%) regarding COVID-19. Predictors of good knowledge included having a bachelor’s degree (AOR: 5.0, CI: 1.13–22.19) and having prior COVID-19 related training (AOR: 8.83, CI: 2.03–38.44). Predictors of good practice included having a master’s or Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) qualification (AOR: 5.23, CI: 1.15–23.87) and having prior COVID-19 related training (AOR: 14.01, CI: 6.47–30.36).Conclusion: Our findings revealed that medical laboratory professionals in Zambia have good knowledge regarding COVID-19. There is need for continuous professional development to ensure that medical laboratory professionals are well informed and aware of best practices to aid in curbing the pandemic.

Preventive practice and associated factors among health care workers towards COVID-19 in Addis Ababa covid care center

“…(10) This can be also due to the difference in study subjects, where the Zambian study included only laboratory staff. (12) Conversely, the finding of this study is higher than the study done in Lebanon 35 %. (14)…”

Preventive practice and associated factors among health care workers towards COVID-19 in Addis Ababa covid care center

“…(10) This can be also due to the difference in study subjects, where the Zambian study included only laboratory staff. (12) Conversely, the finding of this study is higher than the study done in Lebanon 35 %. (14)…”

Knowledge of Covid-19 among Medical Scientists in Nigeria

“…The quality of care provided by the medical scientists depends on the level of the general knowledge and knowledge of diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 they possess. According to a study in Zambia, the majority of the participating medical laboratory professionals (84.1%) had good knowledge of COVID-19[14]. This finding is in tandem with the discovery in this study as more than half of the respondents had good general knowledge and causes (52%), mode of transmission (52.7%), and symptoms (54.2%) of COVID-19.…”

Zambia’s Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic: Exploring Lessons, Challenges and Implications for Future Policies and Strategies

“…This coincided with reports of the emergence of a more deleterious Delta variant, which had been attributed to higher infections and deaths in other countries [71]. Other reasons postulated included the relaxation of COVID-19 preventive measures driven by perceptions and myths [55] [72]. Further, a high number of community deaths had been reported, implying poor health-seeking behaviour among the population, precluding quick medical attention where needed [19].…”

Preventive practice and associated factors among health care workers towards COVID-19 in Addis Ababa covid care center

“…(10) This can be also due to the difference in study subjects, where the Zambian study included only laboratory staff. (12) Conversely, the finding of this study is higher than the study done in Lebanon 35 %. (14)…”

Knowledge of Covid-19 among Medical Scientists in Nigeria

“…The quality of care provided by the medical scientists depends on the level of the general knowledge and knowledge of diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 they possess. According to a study in Zambia, the majority of the participating medical laboratory professionals (84.1%) had good knowledge of COVID-19[14]. This finding is in tandem with the discovery in this study as more than half of the respondents had good general knowledge and causes (52%), mode of transmission (52.7%), and symptoms (54.2%) of COVID-19.…”

Zambia’s Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic: Exploring Lessons, Challenges and Implications for Future Policies and Strategies

“…This coincided with reports of the emergence of a more deleterious Delta variant, which had been attributed to higher infections and deaths in other countries [71]. Other reasons postulated included the relaxation of COVID-19 preventive measures driven by perceptions and myths [55] [72]. Further, a high number of community deaths had been reported, implying poor health-seeking behaviour among the population, precluding quick medical attention where needed [19].…”

Preventive practice and associated factors among health care workers towards COVID-19 in Addis Ababa covid care center

“…(10) This can be also due to the difference in study subjects, where the Zambian study included only laboratory staff. (12) Conversely, the finding of this study is higher than the study done in Lebanon 35 %. (14)…”

Knowledge of Covid-19 among Medical Scientists in Nigeria

“…The quality of care provided by the medical scientists depends on the level of the general knowledge and knowledge of diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 they possess. According to a study in Zambia, the majority of the participating medical laboratory professionals (84.1%) had good knowledge of COVID-19[14]. This finding is in tandem with the discovery in this study as more than half of the respondents had good general knowledge and causes (52%), mode of transmission (52.7%), and symptoms (54.2%) of COVID-19.…”

Zambia’s Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic: Exploring Lessons, Challenges and Implications for Future Policies and Strategies

“…This coincided with reports of the emergence of a more deleterious Delta variant, which had been attributed to higher infections and deaths in other countries [71]. Other reasons postulated included the relaxation of COVID-19 preventive measures driven by perceptions and myths [55] [72]. Further, a high number of community deaths had been reported, implying poor health-seeking behaviour among the population, precluding quick medical attention where needed [19].…”