Abstract:

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome-coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection is becoming a global health problem that is primarily detected in KSA with progressive increase in cases and deaths. Mass gathering and cross country mixture during season of Hajj and Umrah, the associated hygienic conditions and limited community knowledge about the infection are possible causes. Although many researchers have analyzed epidemiology of the infection, there are few reports of knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of healthcare providers towards the infection in KAS. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Makkah public hospitals from September 2014 to April 2015. A total of 281 participants representing healthcare providers were included in this study. Data representing knowledge, attitude and practices were collected using structured self-administered questionnaires. The mean age of the participants was 30.8 ± 6.3, years ranged from 21 to 57. More than half of them were females (57.7%) and 46.3% were nurses. In general, our findings showed that only one third of them (32.4%) acquired good knowledge about the infection with mean knowledge score 18.3 ± 3.9 (out of 28) and most of them (91.8%) showed negative attitude towards the infection with mean attitude score 5.4 ± 1.6 (out of 11). However, 87.9% reported good practices with mean practice score 7.2 ± 1.5 (out of 8). There are significant positive associations between knowledge and both attitude and practices scores. The mean knowledge score was significantly higher among those with age ≥ 30 years, physicians and those with > 10 years of experience and the mean practice score was significantly more among females. In conclusion, our study showed that there are knowledge gap and negative attitude among healthcare providers at Makkah hospitals towards MERS-CoV infection although they reported good practices. Continued and strengthened educational programs are needed to improve their knowledge and change their attitudes towards MERS-CoV infection that will be in the interest of global public health.

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