EVIDENCE-BASED OCCUPATIONAL RISK OF CORONAVIRUS DISEASE (COVID-19) AMONG HEALTH WORKERS
GODSON CHUKWUEMEKA AJUZIE
Community Health Technology Department, School of Community Health, Centenary College of Health Science and Technology, Emohua, Rivers State, Nigeria and Human Physiology Department, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Gregory University, Uturu, Nigeria.
JULIET ORLU
Community Health Technology Department, School of Community Health, Centenary College of Health Science and Technology, Emohua, Rivers State, Nigeria.
OSAH MARTINS ONWUKA *
Human Physiology Department, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Gregory University, Uturu, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Introduction: Epidemiologic variables (prevalence and impact) of coronavirus disease were evaluated among health workers to elucidate the occupational risk of frontline fighters of the viral infection.
Methods: This is a descriptive study performed from September to December 2021 on all consenting healthcare workers (HCWs) in a health facility in southern Nigeria. Data collected were statistically analyzed using SPSS version 23.
Results: About 339 volunteered HWs consisting of doctors 88 (26.0%), nurses 78 (23.0%), midwives 54 (15.9%), laboratory scientists 32 (9.4%), pharmacists 21 (6.2%), Public Health Surveillance Officer 29 (8.6%), psychosocial counselor 11 (3.2%), administrative officers 17 (5.0%) and others 9 (2.7%) were involved in the study. About 98 (28.9%) were COVID-19 patients while 241 (71.1%) were healthy. Among 98 unhealthy HCWs, 55 (56.1%) were male, and 43 (43.9%) with an age range of 18 – 79 years. The symptoms distribution produced among the unhealthy volunteers included; fever 12 (12.2%), dry cough 17 (17.3%), productive cough 6 (6.1%), Dyspnea 7 (7.1%), Anosmia 9 (9.2%), headache 8 (8.2%), fatigue 8 (8.2%), Myalgia 4 (4.1%), Aguesia 6(6.1%), Diarrhea 4 (4.1%), sore throat 5 (5.1%), Rhinorrhea 3 (3.1%), Vomiting 2 (2.0%) and Others 7 (7.1%). The study also showed that there was a significant distribution of anxiety and depression among the frontline fighters, P<0.05.
Conclusion: The distribution and impact of the virus observed among clinical and clinical support staff in this study provided an evidence-based occupational risk of the virus on HCWs, especially the frontline fighters; Hence, forming a basis for the need to put in place measures to manage and curtail the viral infection rate in hospital facilities in addition to enhancing prevention behavior of HCWs.
Keywords: Coronavirus disease, COVID-19, occupational risk, healthcare workers