Evaluation of Health Awareness for Para-Medical Staff about Communicable Diseases at Medical City Hospitals Complex in Baghdad
Israa Hatem Rasheed1, Wissam Jabbar Qassim2
1M.Sc. Student, University of Baghdad, Collage of Nursing, Community Health Nursing, and Academic Nurse in Ministry of Health and Environment at Medical City Hospitals Complex
Directorate, Province Baghdad, Iraq, [email protected].
2 Professor Ph.D., University of Baghdad, College of Nursing, Community Health Nursing Department, [email protected].
Abstract
Aimed this study to evaluation the health awareness for Para-medic staff about communicable diseases at Medical City Hospitals Complex in Baghdad and found the relationship between health awareness level and socio-demographic characteristics among Para- medics staff. The study initiated form (October 1th 2020 to April 15th 2021), Non experimental design (A descriptive Evaluation study) was used to guide this study, A Probability, randomizes sampling of (200) Para- medics staff who works in Medical City Hospitals Complex at Baghdad.
The data analyzed through the use of a descriptive and inferential statistics by use Statistical Package for Social Science (SSPS version 24), and the results found that the majority of the study sample have a moderate to high levels of health awareness, as well there was high significant association between paramedics’ level of health awareness and their level of education. The researcher found that awareness has a great impact on Para-medics in term of communicable diseases control, so they are recommended to providing educational program by using different means of education to updated information about communicable diseases infection, sources, modes of transmission and management protocols and prevention for all health care workers.
Keywords: Health Awareness, Para-medics staff, Communicable Diseases.
Introduction
Communicable diseases are illnesses caused by infection (body invasion) with particular germs such as viruses, bacteria, funguses, and parasites, that invading the body, those illnesses that can be passed from one person to another either directly or indirectly [1].Health-care workers (HCWs) are a special subset of workers because they are vulnerable to infection from the patients they care for, as well as having the ability to spread infections they have to the patients. Infections among HCWs should therefore be avoided, and the majority of infections can be avoided by following standard precautions [2]. However, the high prevalence of HCAIs is due to a lack of a formal infection control program, which was overlooked due to a lack of funding, sanitary conditions, and hygiene practices [3].So thatHealth awareness is essential part of community health, when there is health awareness application from community members means change behavior from unhealthy behavior to healthy behavior. However,Health awareness can decreased significantly the spread of communicable diseases or even lower the effect of disease outbreak, it can completely stop the transmission of diseases only if the rate of infected people below a threshold [4,5]. When a disease breaks out in a human population, changes in behavior in response to the outbreak can influence the infectious agent's progression. For example, people who are aware of a disease in their region can take action to minimize their vulnerability[4].Increased perception about infectious disease is crucial for disease control; a lack of reasonable knowledge of infectious diseases leads to low detection rates, treatment delays, discrimination, and stigma [6]
.
Knowing how much knowledgeable people, such as Para- medicals, who are qualified to assist medical professionals and provide emergency medical care, know about H1N1 infection is a significant starting point in developing proper prevention tools [7].Methodology
Ethical Consideration
Permission has been obtained from Medical City Hospitals Complex directorate to ensure their acceptance, cooperation and to arrange for the administrations of teaching hospital to do study as well Para-medic Personnel who have agreed to participate in the study.
Design and setting of study
A Descriptive Evaluation study which evaluate the Health Awareness levels for Para- medics staff about communicable diseases at Medical City Hospitals Complex in Baghdad, Iraq.
Initiated from (October1st , 2020 – April 15th , 2021). This was conducted through a probability sample of (200) Para-medics staff who were working in Medical City Hospitals Complex through a constructed instrument( self – administration questioners).
Instrument of study
The researcher uses a constructed self – administration questioners consist from four parts which theses are; Socio-demographic data, Awareness about communicable diseases(20) items, Awareness about infection, source of infection, and signs and symptom of diseases (15) items, and Awareness about preventive measurement and control of communicable diseases (15) items.
Statistical Analysis
The data of the present study is analyzed through using the Statistical Package of Social Sciences (SPSS) version (24). The following statistical data analysis approaches were used in order to analyze data and assess the results of the study. The researchers used descriptive and inferential data analysis to obtain results
.
3. Result and discussion
Table (1): Distribution of Sample according to their Socio- demographic Characteristics
List Characteristics f %
1
Age
(M±SD=37±8)
25 – 34 year 87 43.5
35 – 44 year 72 36
45 – 54 year 35 17.5
55≤ year 6 3
Total 200 100
2 Gender
Male 79 39.5
Female 121 60.5
Total 200 100
3 Qualification
Secondary School 31 15.5
Institute 78 39
College 79 39.5
Postgraduate 12 6
Total 200 100
4 Participating in training No 44 22
course Yes 156 78
Total 200 100
5 Number of training course
None 44 22
1 – 3 132 66
4 – 6 24 12
Total 200 100
6 Place of training course
None 44 22
Inside country 150 75
Outside country 6 3
Total 200 100
7 Years of experience
5 – 10 years 80 40
11 – 15 year 49 18.5
16 – 20 year 37 8.5
21 – 25 year 17 8.5
26 – 30 year 11 5.5
31 ≤ year 6 3
Total 200 100
f: Frequency, %: Percentage, M: Mean, SD: Standard deviation
Table (2): Overall Evaluation of Health Awareness among Para-Medics Staff about Communicable Diseases
Levels f % M SD
Low 3 1.5
35.08 7.393
Moderate 78 39
High 119 59.5
Total 200 100
f: Frequency, %: Percentage, M: Mean for total score, SD: Standard Deviation
Table (3): Analysis of Variance for Health Awareness about Communicable Disease among Para-Medic Staff with regard to their Qualification (N=200)
Qualification
Awareness
Source of variance
Sum of
Squares df Mean
Square F Sig.
General health awareness
Between Groups 322.453 3 107.484 11.881 .001
Within Groups 1773.127 196 9.047
Total 2095.580 199
Source, signs, and symptoms of infection
Between Groups 111.953 3 37.318 6.779 .001
Within Groups 1078.922 196 5.505
Total 1190.875 199
Preventive precautions and treatments
Between Groups 216.572 3 72.191 9.669 .001 Within Groups 1463.423 196 7.466
Total 1679.995 199
Overall health awareness
Between Groups 1837.901 3 612.634 13.285 .001 Within Groups 9038.819 196 46.116
Total 10876.720 199
df: Degree of freedom, F: F-statistic, Sig: Significance
Table (1) shows that the majority of the study sample was at age ranged between (25-34) year’s old with (43.5%), female (60.5%), and college graduated with (39.5%). The results of study in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia shows that most of health care worker were in the age group between 30-40 years old (41.2%), and all health care workers were males [8].Another study inthe Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,the result show that among total study sample (n=282), that 156 (57.6%) were males, and 115 (42.4%) were females, which is inconsistent with the finding of present study [9]. According to the level of education, the study in New Delhi, by; Gupta et al., (2012); show that a total number of 207 subjects (nurses, technicians and the Para medical support staff) were included in the study, The nursing and technical staff was graduates in their
respective fields whereas the support staff was less educated with the majority of them only having completed their basic schooling with no college experience [10].
Table (2) showing the overall evaluation of Health Awareness about communicable disease in which (59.5%) of Para-medics showing high level and (39%) of them showing moderate level. The result of study was conducted in Saudi Arabia depicts that awareness level of nurses about COVID-19, (96.85%) had excellent awareness about the virus, and their perception towards COVID-19, (69.2%) had a very high perception [11]. Another study in Saudi Arabia show the finding that (52%) of health care professionals had awareness [9].
Table (3) showing Variance for Health Awareness about Communicable Disease among Para-Medic Staff with regard to their Qualification, the finding show that there are high significant relationship between health awareness about communicable disease and qualification of Para-medics staff as indicated by high significant differences at p-value = 0.001 respectively.
The study finding showed a statistically significant difference in participants’ responses for the perception and their education level at p-value = 0.016. Diploma and BSN educated nurses scored statistically significantly higher than master’s educated nurses with p-value = 0.014[10].
Conclusion
The resultsof the study concluded the importance of awareness toward communicable diseases for individuals, health care workers, and all the community to maintained the healthy behavior and prevent or control the diseases. The majority of Para-medics staff have moderate to high levels of awareness about communicable diseases, also there is no statistical significant association between Para-medics level of awareness and their socio-demographic characteristics in term of age, training course, number of training, place of training, and years of experiences while, there is association with levels of qualification.
Recommendation
The researchers recommended to providing education program with different means of education to increases and update knowledge related to communicable diseases infection, emergence and reemergence new strain of diseases, modes of transmission and management protocols and prevention for all health care workers, also provide infection control training periodically for all health care workers, especially Para-medics personnel to maintain their level of awareness high.
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