• Chioma Ngozichukwu Pauline Mbachu, Chimaobi Marie-Claire Azubuike, Ikechukwu Innocent Mbachu, Chizalu Ifeyinwa Ndukwu, Amaka Yves-Ann Ezeuko, Ifeoma Bridget Udigwe, Chioma Phyllis Nnamani, Uche Marian Umeh, Dorothy Amauche Ezeagwuna, Stanley Kenechi Onah, Henry Obinna Eze, Uzoma Chidi Okereke, and Esther Nkiruka Orji-Ifeanyi.
• Department of Paediatrics, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria. chiomambachupauline@gmail.com.
• J Infect Dev Ctries. 2020 Sep 30; 14 (9): 943-952.

IntroductionThe coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infection rate and mortality among Nigerian health care workers appear to be on the increase. This study determined the level of knowledge, attitude, practices, and impact of COVID-19 infection on healthcare workers (HCWs) working in a South-Eastern Nigerian state.MethodologyThis was a web-based, cross-sectional study conducted among healthcare workers in South-eastern, Nigeria during the lockdown period. Socio-demographic profile, knowledge of COVID-19, fears and impact concerning COVID-19, attitude of health workers to work, preventive practices during this pandemic period were obtained. Data were analysed using STATA 16.0. Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests of association were used to determine the association between variables, with the significance level set at p < 0.05.ResultsA total of 403 health care workers participated in the study. Majority of participants (n = 357, 88.59%) had good knowledge and good preventive practices (n = 328, 81.39%) of COVID-19. A significant proportion of respondents had a poor attitude to work (n = 101, 25.06%) and an attitude of indifference (n = 233, 57.82%). Almost half (48.64%) of participants had been negatively affected by COVID-19. Knowledge significantly influenced practice (p = 0.029). Lack of Personal protective equipment, fear of dying and going to common places, had a significant impact on the attitude of workers.ConclusionGood knowledge which influenced practice, high use of preventive practices, with associated poor and indifferent attitude was noted among healthcare workers. Fear of death and lack of personal protective equipment had a strong impact on attitude. Female HCWs had poorer attitude to work than males.Copyright (c) 2020 Chioma Ngozichukwu Pauline Mbachu, Chimaobi Marie-Claire Azubuike, Ikechukwu Innocent Mbachu, Chizalu Ifeyinwa Ndukwu, Amaka Yves-Ann Ezeuko , Ifeoma Bridget Udigwe, Chioma Phyllis Nnamani, Uche Marian Umeh, Dorothy Amauche Ezeagwuna, Stanley Kenechi Onah, Henry Obinna Eze, Uzoma Chidi Okereke, Esther Nkiruka Orji-Ifeanyi.

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