Predictors of Health-Care Workers’ Unwillingness to Continue Working During the Peak of COVID-19 in Western Ethiopia: An Extended Parallel-Process Model Study

Abstract

Willingness to work in disasters is context-specific and corresponds to the nature, magnitude, and threats posed by a particular public health emergency. None us is certain that our health professionals will continue to provide service should the COVID-19 pandemic crisis climb to its worst level. It was with this uncertainty in mind that this study was done to assess predictors of the unwillingness of health-care workers (HCWs) to continue providing their professional services during the climax of the COVID-19 crisis. Methods: This was a facility-based descriptive cross-sectional study undertaken among 633 HCWsin western Ethiopia. Results: Overall, 205 (32.4%) providers said that they would be unwilling to continue work if COVID-19 peaked. Of these, 176 (27.9%) respondents reported that they would stop going in to work before they were at greatest risk. Statistical analysis performed to predict HCWs unwillingness' to continue work at peak COVID-19 showed male sex (AOR 11.4, 95% CI 8.32-12.6), younger age (AOR 25.3, 95% CI 4.61-40.67), lack of experience in handling similar pandemics (AOR 5.15, 95% CI 1.1-255), and low perceived level of hospital preparedness (AOR 2.05, 95% CI 0.80-5.21) were predictors of unwillingness. In accordance with the extended parallel-process model, higher threat perception (P≤0.001) and low efficacy perception (P≤0.040) were associated with unwillingness of the HCWs to continue working. Conclusion: The proportion of HCWs unwilling to continue their job during COVID-19 is sufficient to affect efforts tof fight the pandemic. As the question of whether our HCWs must risk themselves to treat COVID-19 patients does not have a uniform answer, working on predictors of potential unwillingness is of paramount importance.

Perceptions and Experiences of COVID-19 Vaccine Side-Effects Among Healthcare Workers in Southern Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…Healthcare workers are facing an increasing threat as a result of confronting COVID-19 pandemic. 26 COVID-19 has become one of the major causes of death, which has still continued to claim the lives of healthcare professionals worldwide 27 most of whom are forced to work under circumstances where there are acute shortages of personal protective materials. 28 The innovation of vaccination, no doubt, would help to maintain public health and safety 1–4 if the necessary activities of recipients’ level of awareness is raised in a way they become not hesitant to receive the vaccine.…”

Intention to Receive the Second Round of COVID-19 Vaccine Among Healthcare Workers in Eastern Ethiopia

“…Reports indicate that healthcare workers across the world are facing an increasing threat as a result of confronting severe and contagious diseases, including COVID-19. 1 , 2 Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic has remained one of the leading causes of death which claimed the lives of many well-trained and experienced healthcare professionals, especially in Europe. 3 Many healthcare workers have died after contracting the virus while treating the patients infected by COVID-19.…”

Changing Patterns of Compliance with Protective Behavioral Recommendations in the Post First-Round COVID-19 Vaccine Period Among Healthcare Workers in Southern Ethiopia

“…3,5 It is indicated that healthcare workers are facing an increasing threat as a result of confronting severe and contagious diseases, including COVID-19. 6 Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic remains a major cause of death which has claimed the lives of many well trained and experienced healthcare professionals, especially in Europe. 7 Many healthcare workers have died after contracting the virus while treating patients infected by COVID-19.…”

“…[9][10][11][12] The Coronavirus pandemic has also resulted in healthcare workers facing shortages of personal protective materials against COVID-19. 13 Woyessa et al 6 found that healthcare workers in Western Ethiopia are generally unwilling to continue working under circumstances where the spread of COVID-19 pandemic reached at its peak. According to the Health and Safety Authority, 10 safety and health guidelines are applicable to all workers in all settings, but the extent to which they are effectively implemented relies on many factors, including the adequacy of its facilities.…”