Influenza A H1NI (Pandemic 2009): How prepared are healthcare providers in Calabar, Nigeria?

Abstract

, an outbreak of influenza was reported in Mexico and California and within months, it spread to all continents of the world. An influenza pandemic has always posed a threat to global public health. The objective of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitude, reported practice and preparedness of health care providers in Calabar, Nigeria, regarding the H1N1 pandemic. This was a prospective study. A semi-structured questionnaire was administered on health care providers in Calabar, Nigeria. One hundred and forty-five (41.6%) respondents reported that the infection was transmitted from pigs to humans whereas 53 (15.1%) reported that it was transmitted from humans to humans. Two hundred and thirty-one (66.0%) respondents were not willing to work in a hospital unit where patients with Influenza A H1N1 are treated. One hundred and thirty-eight (39.4%) respondents were willing to receive vaccination against Influenza A H1N1 while majority, 212 (60.6%) were not willing. There are gaps in knowledge of respondents regarding H1N1 infection and their level of preparedness is low. Capacity building in emergency preparedness for infectious disease epidemic is recommended.

Effective communication is key to intensive care nurses’ willingness to provide nursing care amidst the COVID-19 pandemic

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“…For instance, during the H1N1 influenza pandemic in China, more than 82% of the HCWs expressed willingness to care for H1N1 patients [28]. The rate was 82% in Australia [29] and 85% in Japan [30], though it was comparatively low in some countries like Hong Kong (23%) [31] and Nigeria (34%) [32] during the same pandemic. Studies conducted in the context of a previous avian influenza (H5N1) pandemic reported that the rate of the willingness of the HCWs to continue work in hospitals was 84% in the USA [33], 90% in Japan [34] and 57% in Taiwan [18].…”

Factors associated with loss of motivation and hesitation to work amongst frontline health care providers during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional survey from a developing country

“…In another study, around 21% of HCWs of selected hospitals of Southwest Ethiopia were unwilling to work [ 11 ]. In other past studies of HCWs’ willingness to work in a pandemic, like the H1N1 influenza pandemic, up to 20% showed hesitation to work in China [ 12 ], while in other countries like Nigeria and Hong Kong, the percentages were at 66 and 77 respectively [ 13 , 14 ]. According to the study by Tahir et al, HCWs experience a high level of stress, depression, and anxiety during these periods of physical and mental overload during the pandemic which have long-term psychological impacts on their work and personal lives [ 15 ].…”