Original article
Knowledge, attitude and practice of healthcare workers concerning Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever in Western Iran

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apjtb.2016.04.007Get rights and content
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Abstract

Objective

To determine the knowledge, attitude and practice of healthcare workers in Kermanshah Province about Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF).

Methods

This study was conducted in 2014 on healthcare personnel in different job categories including physicians, nurses, midwives, laboratory staff and network health staff of Kermanshah Province by direct interview.

Results

A total of 367 respondents who had more than 5 years of experience in their jobs were interviewed. Among them 91% of physicians and nurses, 97% of midwives and health workers and 96% of laboratory staff stated that they had not been confronted with CCHF patients so far. Regarding knowledge, 76% of physicians, 78% of nurses, 77% of midwives and 58% of laboratory staff believed that the disease is remediable. Most of the interviewed participants stated that the disease pertains to people who are in close contact with domestic animals, but they did not consider their own occupations as one of the risk factors. More than 70% of the respondents believed that the disease may exist in the province or their work field. Generally, the knowledge about CCHF was inadequate, with nurses having the lowest level of knowledge.

Conclusions

Knowledge of Kermanshah healthcare staff about CCHF was poor, especially nurses in a high risk job category. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct specific training programs for the disease identification, transmission, prevention, and treatment as well as the use of personal protection and safety devices.

Keywords

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever
Healthcare worker
Knowledge
Iran

Cited by (0)

The study protocol was approved by the Ethic Committee of Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences which approved the investigations. Informed written consent was obtained from all participants in this study. Confidentiality on the content of the records was kept by the investigators and information was only utilized for the research purpose.

Foundation Project: Supported by Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran (Grant No. 94251).

Peer review under responsibility of Hainan Medical University. The journal implements double-blind peer review practiced by specially invited international editorial board members.