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Responses to Epidemic Prevention in Nigeria; Hand Hygiene Practices During and After Ebola Virus Disease Outbreak

Pepple N and Akpan E

Most infections are thought to be transmitted by contact with an infected person’s body fluid, e.g., Ebola virus disease (EVD). Following the recent EVD outbreak in Nigeria, the essence of this study was to assess the responses to epidemic prevention in Nigeria by individuals and institutions; a comparative study of hand hygiene practices during and after EVD outbreak was carried out.

The aim of this study was to indirectly assess the level of the nation’s preparedness to combating disease outbreak by assessing the attitude and practice of hand hygiene among the general population and institutions in Abuja–FCT, Nigeria, after the EVD outbreak and to investigate the presence of the necessary facilities and supplies required for hand hygiene in institutions (schools, banks, hospitals, hotels and NGOs working on healthcare). These institutions were observed to be complying with high hygiene and safety practices and had adequate prevention facilities during the EVD outbreak in Nigeria. A cross-sectional descriptive and observational study was conducted. Observation of the presence of safety facilities and utilization/compliance was conducted at the selected institutions. Staff attitudes and perceptions towards hand hygiene were assessed through self-administered questionnaire to management staff in 10 different institutions: 2 each of schools, hospitals, banks, hotels and health NGOs. Another questionnaire was administered to clients of the institutions to get their own view on the institutions’ attitude and practices of hand hygiene during and after EVD outbreak and also to cross check this information with the one provided by the Institutions. A total of 50 questionnaires were administered for this study; 10 to the institution and 40 to their clients. The study showed that 100% of the respondents had adequate knowledge of the EVD and the strategies employed for prevention, about 30% of the respondents were still adhering to the safety precautions like frequent hand wash and use of hand sanitizers; 30% did it intermittently and 40% did so only when they deemed it necessary. On institutional provisions of hand hygiene facilities, 30% still had the facilities in place, 20% no longer provided while 50% had some (water and soap) but not all the needed hand hygiene facilities available.