Arba Minch University’s research scholars have brought forth some interesting findings after investigating varied associated factors of Corona virus as it continues to threaten mankind. Studies focusing Southern Ethiopia, in particular, dwelt into its impact on societies, individual, health professionals, chronic patients’ behavior, etc. It has also profoundly disclosed health facilities’ vulnerability and stigma attached to it.
At the outset, Mr Abera Mersha focusing on practice of health professionals, revealed that the practice of precautionary measures against COVID-19 pandemic was low and recommended that Ministry of Health and other concerned task actors should strengthen capacities such as in-service training, motivate and recognize staff’s contribution to bring about attitudinal change in them.
He and his associates further add that apart from lacuna in preventive measure practices in healthcare system, the government, Ministry of Health, non-governmental organizations and other voluntary backing will equip health facilities with requisite supplies and improve infrastructures. Individual, organizational and systemic capacity-building activities like trainings and workshops, mentorships, seeking volunteers with expertise and raising public awareness will bring about positive impact; recognition will boost their morale, he stressed.
The participants perceived shortage of personal protective gears, solutions for hand hygiene, negligence, ignorance, poor infrastructure, lack of training, attention and recognition for staff on practice of preventive measures are major cause of concern. On perceived barriers to health professionals, he stated that 6 main themes were identified with sub-themes - overview of pandemic, consequences, perceived practice, perceived barriers, newfangled activities and suggestion for improvement were major themes.
Principal Researcher, Mr Abinet Teshome and his associates revealed that prevalence of anxiety disorder among healthcare workers (HCWs) was high in South Ethiopia and they get overwhelmed by demands of everyday life. The study suggests immediate psychological intervention is vital and proactive measures should be taken by stakeholders at different levels to boost psychological wellbeing of HCWs that will control and contain pandemic’s blitz.
Mr Abinet has further unraveled that 29.3 and 6.3% of HCWs said to have had mild and moderate anxiety disorder. Citing a study from China he said that 44.6% of HCWs had anxiety symptoms and related study held in Turkey indicated that 51.6% of respondents had anxiety-related symptoms; of this, 16.3, 13.1, 10.6 and 11.5% of them had mild, moderate, severe, and extremely severe anxiety symptoms.
The current study showed that majority of HCWs experienced mild symptoms of anxiety while moderate and severe symptoms were less common among participants. The reported figure is huge since the study was conducted at the early stage of pandemic in Ethiopia; this necessitated the need for early detection and importance of picking up and effectively treating milder clinical symptoms of anxiety.
Principal Researcher, Mr Eshetu Andarge and his cohorts examining intention and practice on personal preventive measures among adults with chronic conditions in Southern Ethiopia stated that almost 50% of interviewed mass were comfortable in using them while rest need motivation by diverse stakeholders.
The above study was carried out in Gamo and Konso Zones’ Chencha, Geresse, Kamba, Selamber and Arba Minch General hospitals. The researcher revealed that to lift up sagging morale of these individuals zonal level task-force established in conjunction with AMU are creating awareness surveillance and screening services in prevention and controlling of pandemic.
Above mentioned researches are published in open-access peer-reviewed journal BMC Public Health, ResearchGate and Dove Medical Press Limited’s Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare.
(Communication Affairs Directorate)