Knowledge and attitude of Iranian healthcare worker about Crimean Congo haemorraghic fever

Abstract number: 1134_03_51

Mardani M., Rahnavardi M., Rajaeinejad M., Holakouie Naieni K., Pourmalek F.

Background:

Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) is a potentially fatal viral infection caused by a tick-born virus, nosocomial outbreaks with high mortality among hospital staff been documented. Sporadic cases occur through In 1999, 3 health care workers (HCWs) in Iran were infected with CCHF virus following contact with one suspected case of CCHF that one of them died. Systan-Baluchestan (south-east of Iran) and Isfahan (centre of Iran) provinces are now endemic area of CCHF infection in Iran. HCWs of these two provinces are frequently in contact with CCHF cases.

Materials & Methods:  

191 pre-tested and self-administered questionnaires were filled by HCWs who work in admitting wards of hospitals of Systan-Baluchestan and Isfahan provinces of Iran. Collected data was analysed to determine the level of knowledge and attitude of these staff and to distinguish the predicting factors of knowledge and attitude.

Results:  

82% of these HCWs had good knowledge on CCHF, while 83% showed acceptable attitude towards the disease. Knowledge is directly associated with attitude (p < 0.03). Those in higher job rank had better knowledge (p < 0.001) and higher attitude (p < 0.01). The most common used source of data on CCHF was ‘Poster and pamphlet’ (32.2%) among these HCWs. Those who used ‘Poster and pamphlets’ had higher knowledge (p < 0.05). No significant difference was seen among different sex, job or provinces groups in using ‘Poster and pamphlets’. The most common type of contact to CCHF patients was ‘Intact skin to blood’ contact in 37.3% of enrolled HCWs, while 10% had ‘Percutaneous’ contact with CCHF cases. Working in Systan-Baluchestan province was accompanied with higher risk of contact with CCHF cases (p < 0.05).

Conclusion:  

We conclude that enrolled HCWs in Systan-Baluchestan and Isfahan provinces of Iran had acceptable knowledge and attitude. Improvement of knowledge via ‘Poster and pamphlet’ could be an effective modality in these setting. Health authority should pay more attention on Systan-Baluchestan province to provide it with sufficient and effective universal protection to lower nosocomial transmission risk of CCHF in HCWs of this area.