Qualitative healthcare worker survey: Retrospective cross-sectional case study on COVID-19 in the African context

Affiliations

¹ University of Minnesota, Department of Medicine, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
² Addis Ababa University, Faculty, Department of Gastroenterology, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
³ University of Gezira, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Clinical Pharmacy & Pharmacy Practice, Gezira, Sudan.
⁴ Aswan University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Gastroenterology, Aswan, Egypt.
⁵ Al-Rajhi University Liver Hospital, Assiut University, Department of Tropical Medicine and Gastroenterology, Assiut, Egypt.
⁶ Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre, Head of Critical Care Unit & Covid-19 Isolation Unit, Department of Medicine, Arusha, Tanzania.
⁷ Makerere University, Medical Officer, College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda.
⁸ Institute for Primate Research, Faculty Researcher, Nairobi, Kenya.
⁹ University of Nigeria, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Virology, Nsukka, Nigeria.
¹⁰ Allina Health, Faculty, Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
¹¹ Hennepin Healthcare, Faculty, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
¹² Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Department of Medicine, the Netherlands.

PMID: 35706585
PMCID: PMC9186419
DOI: 10.1016/j.amsu.2022.103918

Qualitative healthcare worker survey: Retrospective cross-sectional case study on COVID-19 in the African context

Allison Benjamin et al. Ann Med Surg (Lond). 2022 Jul.

. 2022 Jul:79:103918.

doi: 10.1016/j.amsu.2022.103918. Epub 2022 Jun 10.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ University of Minnesota, Department of Medicine, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
² Addis Ababa University, Faculty, Department of Gastroenterology, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
³ University of Gezira, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Clinical Pharmacy & Pharmacy Practice, Gezira, Sudan.
⁴ Aswan University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Gastroenterology, Aswan, Egypt.
⁵ Al-Rajhi University Liver Hospital, Assiut University, Department of Tropical Medicine and Gastroenterology, Assiut, Egypt.
⁶ Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre, Head of Critical Care Unit & Covid-19 Isolation Unit, Department of Medicine, Arusha, Tanzania.
⁷ Makerere University, Medical Officer, College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda.
⁸ Institute for Primate Research, Faculty Researcher, Nairobi, Kenya.
⁹ University of Nigeria, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Virology, Nsukka, Nigeria.
¹⁰ Allina Health, Faculty, Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
¹¹ Hennepin Healthcare, Faculty, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
¹² Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Department of Medicine, the Netherlands.

PMID: 35706585
PMCID: PMC9186419
DOI: 10.1016/j.amsu.2022.103918

Abstract

Background: Despite the presence of COVID-19 epidemiologic data in Africa, there are gaps in the understanding of healthcare workers' concerns and fears early in the pandemic.

Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional multi-country pan-African qualitative survey case study on the perceived effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare workers in the continent focused specifically on personal safety and misinformation. The survey was distributed to 13 countries via snowball sampling of practitioners between April 22 and May 15, 2020. The survey solicited free-form answers, resulting in a large spectrum of responses. Qualitative analysis included open and axial coding methods for thematic emergence.

Results: A total of 489 analyzable responses were recorded. The majority of respondents (n = 273, 57%) highlighted personal safety concerns including lack of resources and training to prevent infection (33%); fear of infection and transmission (24%); lack of public awareness and compliance with regulations (12%); governmental concerns (9%) and economic insecurity (11%) amongst others. 328 respondents (67%) reported having heard misinformation about COVID-19. Responses included misinformation regarding origin of the virus (11%), false modes of transmission (6%), differential effect for specific groups (30%), unproven cures (35%), and disbelief in existence (11%). Responses for misinformation and fears revealed categorical associations between certain countries.

Conclusion: Addressing fears and concerns of frontline healthcare workers facilitates their essential role in combating community misinformation, and further understanding could provide essential insight to institutions and governments to direct resource allotment and community education.

Keywords: Africa; COVID-19; Global health; Health personnel; Pandemic; Surveys and questionnaires.

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Conflict of interest statement

N/A.

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Qualitative healthcare worker survey: Retrospective cross-sectional case study on COVID-19 in the African context

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Qualitative healthcare worker survey: Retrospective cross-sectional case study on COVID-19 in the African context

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