Baseline knowledge and attitudes on COVID-19 among hotels’ staff: A cross-sectional study in Kigali, Rwanda

Abstract

Background The World Health Organization declared coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) as a global pandemic on the 11th of March, 2020. Hotels and other public establishments have been associated with higher transmission rates. Sensitisation of staff and strengthening of Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) practices in such settings are important interventions. This study assessed the baseline knowledge and attitudes on COVID-19 among hotels’ representatives in Kigali, Rwanda. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among hotels’ staff in Kigali in July 2020. A structured questionnaire was self-administered to 104 participants. Baseline knowledge and attitudes were assessed using a number of pre-test questions and mean scores were used to dichotomise the participants’ responses as satisfactory or unsatisfactory. Results All of the 104 hotels’ staff completed the self-administered questionnaires. Sixty-seven percent (n = 70) were male and 58% (n = 60) were aged between 30 and 44 years. The satisfactory rate of correct answers was 63%±2.4 (n = 66) on knowledge and 68%±1.7 (n = 71) on attitudes evaluation. Participants with University education were more likely to have satisfactory knowledge (AOR: 2.6, 95% C.I: 1.07–6.58) than those with secondary education or less. The staff working in the front-office (AOR: 0.05; 95% CI 0.01–0.54) and housekeeping (AOR: 0.09; 95% C.I: 0.01–0.87) were less likely to have satisfactory attitudes than those working in the administration. Conclusions Hotels’ staff based in the capital of Rwanda have shown satisfactory knowledge and attitudes regarding appropriate IPC practices for preventing the COVID-19 transmission. Educational interventions are needed to improve their knowledge and attitudes for better prevention in this setting.

Low COVID-19–related knowledge and access to adequate handwashing among patients with chronic diseases in rural Rwanda: a cross-sectional survey

“…In other studies, the educational level was reported to be associated with the COVID-19 knowledge among sub-Sahara African populations, 9,35 including urban Rwanda. 23 We also observed low access to adequate handwashing (35.6%), defined as living in a household with a handwashing station with regular access to water and soap. This finding is consistent with previous reports on disproportionate low proportions of households with access to water, soap and sanitation facilities in rural Rwanda.…”

“…Our findings suggest much poorer knowledge about COVID-19 among rural patients with chronic diseases compared to the findings from two studies on COVID-19-related knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) among hotels' staff and HIV patients receiving clinical follow-up at a hospital in Kigali City. 22,23 There are several reasons for this discrepancy. First, the KAP studies for hotels' staff and HIV patients were conducted three and four months after our study was completed, respectively, and proper knowledge about COVID-19 could have grown over this time.…”

“…18 In Rwanda, where many rural and low-income families suffer from limited access to water and sanitation facilities and supplies in households, 15,17,20 the first case of COVID-19 was reported on 14 March 2020, and a nationwide lockdown was instituted from 22 March to 3 May 2020. 21 Although two previous studies conducted among urban Rwandans living with HIV/AIDS and hotel staff in Kigali, revealed a good level of knowledge about COVID-19, 22,23 little is known about the knowledge of COVID-19 among the 83% of Rwandans who live in rural areas. 24 In addition, Rwanda is one of 28 countries in which an estimated more than 25% of the population have no handwashing facility at home.…”