EVIDENCE-BASED OCCUPATIONAL RISK OF CORONAVIRUS DISEASE (COVID-19) AMONG HEALTH WORKERS

GODSON CHUKWUEMEKA AJUZIE; JULIET ORLU; OSAH MARTINS ONWUKA

doi:10.56557/ajmab/2022/v7i28024

EVIDENCE-BASED OCCUPATIONAL RISK OF CORONAVIRUS DISEASE (COVID-19) AMONG HEALTH WORKERS

GODSON CHUKWUEMEKA AJUZIE

JULIET ORLU

OSAH MARTINS ONWUKA

Asian Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology, Page 42-49
DOI: 10.56557/ajmab/2022/v7i28024
Published: 31 December 2022

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

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How to Cite

AJUZIE, G. C., ORLU, J., & ONWUKA, O. M. (2022). EVIDENCE-BASED OCCUPATIONAL RISK OF CORONAVIRUS DISEASE (COVID-19) AMONG HEALTH WORKERS. Asian Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology, 7(2), 42-49. https://doi.org/10.56557/ajmab/2022/v7i28024

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