ABSTRACT
Introduction: In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the WHO launched a strategic preparedness and response plan, outlining public health measures to support countries worldwide. Objectives: Our study aimed to assess the level of preparedness of health care workers (HCWs) towards COVID-19 and strenghten HCWs knowledge and perception of the SARS-COV-2 pandemic and its related Infection prevention and control (IPC) measures in Faranah, Guinea. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional pre- and post-intervention study between april 2020 and march 2021. This consisted of a baseline assessment, in-person training, an immediate post-training follow-up and a three months follow-up. Participants were HCWs from the Faranah Regional Hospital (HRF) and two health care centres (HCC). The assessment was carried-out using a questionnaire developed based on WHO recommendations. Data was analysed using STATA Version 17. Results: There was no significant difference in the overall mean knowledge score during baseline (32.67 ± 5.81) and second follow-up (33.96 ± 4.04 p < 0.467). Subgroup analysis found significant improvement in knowledge for the HCC, but not for the hospital, comparing baseline (29.35 ± 6.89) and second follow-up (34.38 ± 3.89, p < 0.007). Overall, there was significant improvement in knowledge among Auxiliary Nurses in the HCC (baseline 28.21 ± 6.68, follow-up 33.87 ± 4.26 p < 0.010), while no significant improvement was observed in other profession groups in both HRF and HCC. Assessment of perception towards Covid-19 pandemic revealed that 48.6% of participants responded feeling helpless regarding the pandemic at baseline, while only 12.9% responded this way after second follow-up. Conclusion: The study highlighted optimal level of preparedness towards COVID-19 and its IPC measures among HCWs in both HRF and HCC as reflected by the good knowledge score noted in both baseline and follow-ups. Knowledge was further strengthened in the HCC-relatively low resourced facilities as compared to HRF, as shown by improvement in knowledge after training. Furthermore, IPC training was a key component in improving certain perceptions HCW's had towards COVID-19.