PUBLIC AWARENESS AND FACILITY PREPAREDNESS IN THE PREVENTION AND MANAGEMENT OF EBOLA VIRUS DISEASE IN THE TAMALE METROPOLIS OF GHANA

Abstract

Ebola Haemorrhagic Fever is a severe infection, characterized by person-to-person transmission through close contact with patients with or without haemorrhagic symptoms, dead bodies or by infected body fluids. An acute serious illness, caused by the Ebola virus is often deadly if untreated. The study assessed the level of public awareness and hospital preparedness in the prevention and management of the Ebola Virus Disease in the Tamale metropolis of the Northern region of Ghana. A descriptive cross-sectional study employing a mixed method research design of both quantitative and qualitative methodology was used involving the people of Tamale metropolis of ages 18 years and above. A non-probability sampling technique was used. This was done to purposively recruit participants from the various facilities used. In all, 400 respondents were interviewed. Overall, 84.8% (306) of respondents identified viruses as the cause of Ebola Virus Disease. However, 38.3% (149) said the disease can be treated. All Health Care Workers (HCWs) interviewed knew about the existence of Personal Protection Equipment (PPEs) and their importance in disease control. Despite their high knowledge level, 83.3% (25) had never seen the special PPEs used for EVD control. General knowledge by respondents about Ebola was generally low as all respondents did not know the natural host of EVD. Health workers had never seen the PPEs designed for EVD but knew about them. Hence, government and stakeholders should give education on the cause and transmission of the EVD on radio as health education to the public.