Assessment of Awareness, Knowledge and Willingness to Care for COVID-19 Patients by Primary Care Providers in a Southern Nigerian City: A Cross-sectional Study

Udeme Asibong; Elvis Bisong; Henry Okpa; Annette Legogie; Inyang Asibong; Anthonia Alabi; Ita Bassey Okokon; Abraham Gyuse; Ndifreke Udonwa

doi:10.3889/oamjms.2022.9753

Authors

Udeme Asibong Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, University of Calabar, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria; Department of Family Medicine, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria
Elvis Bisong Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, University of Calabar, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria; Department of Family Medicine, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria
Henry Okpa Department of Internal Medicine, University of Calabar, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria; Department of Internal Medicine, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria
Annette Legogie Department of Family Medicine, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria
Inyang Asibong Department of Community Medicine, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1787-9299
Anthonia Alabi Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria; Department of Family Medicine, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6769-560X
Ita Bassey Okokon Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, University of Calabar, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria; Department of Family Medicine, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria
Abraham Gyuse Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, University of Calabar, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria; Department of Family Medicine, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria
Ndifreke Udonwa Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, University of Calabar, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria; Department of Family Medicine, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3889/oamjms.2022.9753

Keywords:

Knowledge, Awareness, Willingness, COVID-19, Primary care providers, Health facilities

Abstract

Background: Owing to the novel nature of COVID-19, management strategies are poorly understood by most Primary Care Providers (PCPs) especially in the Low and middle-income Countries (LMIC) of the world. If the knowledge of PCPs concerning COVID-19 is enhanced, awareness, perception and attitude towards patient care will improve. Consequently, maximum prevention and control will be achieved. This study aims at assessing the awareness, knowledge and willingness of the PCPs to care for COVID-19 patients in Calabar, Nigeria.

Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was used to evaluate one thousand one hundred and twenty-six (1126) PCPs actively working in government primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare facilities in Calabar, Nigeria. A total population sampling method was employed and a validated, semi-structured, 33-item questionnaire was used to explore the objectives of the study.

Results: Majority (99.4%) of the study participants were aware of COVID-19. Most (68.4%) information regarding COVID-19 came from the social media. Bonferroni Post Hoc test of multiple comparisons revealed that the knowledge score for PCPs in tertiary was significantly higher compared to those in secondary and primary levels of care. Approximately fifty-five percent (55.3%) of the participants did not want to be involved in the management of COVID -19 patients.

Conclusion: There is the need to focus and intensify training of the PCPs working at the primary and secondary levels of care in order to increase their awareness, knowledge base, willingness to care for patients and eventually reduce morbidity and mortality associated with COVID-19 in the study setting.

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