Conference abstract
COVID-19 amongst health facilities professionals: using the experience of the second wave to strengthen the national system in responding to future outbreaks in Cameroon
Pan African Medical Journal - Conference Proceedings. 2023:18(26).03
Oct 2023.
doi: 10.11604/pamj-cp.2023.18.26.2073
Archived on: 03 Oct 2023
Contact the corresponding author
Keywords: COVID-19, health facilities professionals, second wave, future outbreaks, Cameroon
Oral presentation
COVID-19 amongst health facilities professionals: using the experience of the second wave to strengthen the national system in responding to future outbreaks in Cameroon
Ngomtcho SCH1,2,&, Akenji BM1, Eyebe NC3, Kamkoum YE2, Tchoffo D2, Tchoudjin PHC1, Angyiba AS2, Nsah Bog’ze L2, Nfor BN1, Nanfak A4, Zoung Kani Bisseck AC5, Okomo AMC1, Jerôme Ateudjieu2,4,5
1Molecular Biology and Immunology Units, National Public Health Laboratory of Cameroon (NPHL), Yaoundé, Cameroon, 2Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences (FMPS), University of Dschang, Dschang Cameroon, 3Blood Bank Unit, Hôpital de district de la Cité Verte, Yaoundé, Cameroun, 4Meilleur accès aux soins de santé (M.A. SANTE), Yaoundé, Cameroun, 5Division de la Recherche Opérationnelle en Santé, Ministère de la Santé Publique, Yaoundé, Cameroun
&Corresponding author
Introduction: the second wave of COVID-19 started in January 2021 in the context of CHAN 2021 and the prominence of the more contagious Omicron strain. This was a call for concern for high-risk groups, such as health facilities professionals (HFPs), as they were on the frontlines of this crisis. The objective was to evaluate the burden of SARS-CoV-2 and its potential determinants amongst HFPs in COVID-19 facilities in the Centre Region during the second wave of the epidemic.
Methods: this was a cross-sectional and analytic study. Participants were face-to-face interviewed using a questionnaire. Nasopharyngeal swabs and blood samples were collected and transported to the NPHL. PCR was performed to determine the proportion of COVID-19 active cases, and RDT was used to detect antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. The level of preparedness of health facilities was assessed using the number of years of professional experience, the availability of PPE, training on PCI, and the use of barrier measures. Data were analyzed using SPSS v. 22.0; Chi-square with a level of significance at 5%, and univariate test with logistic regression to determine odd ratios.
Results: four hundred and fifty-eight (458) HFPs were recruited and grouped in clinical, laboratory, and non-clinical staff. The sex ratio was 0.73 in favor of females. 32-55 years old was the most represented age group. The proportion of COVID-19 active cases (7.4%) was higher in non-clinical staff (OR=2.9; P=0.029; CI:1.1-7.6) and lower amongst less than one year of experienced personnel: 8.8% (OR=0.29; CI: 0.089- 0.99; P= 0.049). The degree of exposure (42.2%) was higher in non-clinical staff: 65.2% (OR=2; CI: 1.0- 4.0; P=0.05). Exposure was not age-dependent (P>0.05). 50% of infected HFPs had IgG antibodies. PPE was more available for laboratory staff: 37.3% (OR=2; CI: 1.4- 3.8; P=0.01) and always wearing a mask was significantly associated with antibody seropositivity (OR 1.86, CI: 1.23-2.8, p=0.003). Only ¼ of HFPs had attended training on PCI, and the difference was significant between Public and private health facilities (P<0.05).
Conclusion: health care facilities still face enormous challenges to contain the spread of the virus during the second wave of COVID-19, and previous exposure to SARS-CoV-2 might not be protective to an acute infection. More capacity building is needed in Health care facilities and professionals to efficiently handle future epidemics, and non-clinical staff should be given more attention during response.
COVID-19 amongst health facilities professionals: using the experience of the second wave to strengthen the national system in responding to future outbreaks in Cameroon
Ngomtcho SCH1,2,&, Akenji BM1, Eyebe NC3, Kamkoum YE2, Tchoffo D2, Tchoudjin PHC1, Angyiba AS2, Nsah Bog’ze L2, Nfor BN1, Nanfak A4, Zoung Kani Bisseck AC5, Okomo AMC1, Jerôme Ateudjieu2,4,5
1Molecular Biology and Immunology Units, National Public Health Laboratory of Cameroon (NPHL), Yaoundé, Cameroon, 2Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences (FMPS), University of Dschang, Dschang Cameroon, 3Blood Bank Unit, Hôpital de district de la Cité Verte, Yaoundé, Cameroun, 4Meilleur accès aux soins de santé (M.A. SANTE), Yaoundé, Cameroun, 5Division de la Recherche Opérationnelle en Santé, Ministère de la Santé Publique, Yaoundé, Cameroun
&Corresponding author
Introduction: the second wave of COVID-19 started in January 2021 in the context of CHAN 2021 and the prominence of the more contagious Omicron strain. This was a call for concern for high-risk groups, such as health facilities professionals (HFPs), as they were on the frontlines of this crisis. The objective was to evaluate the burden of SARS-CoV-2 and its potential determinants amongst HFPs in COVID-19 facilities in the Centre Region during the second wave of the epidemic.
Methods: this was a cross-sectional and analytic study. Participants were face-to-face interviewed using a questionnaire. Nasopharyngeal swabs and blood samples were collected and transported to the NPHL. PCR was performed to determine the proportion of COVID-19 active cases, and RDT was used to detect antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. The level of preparedness of health facilities was assessed using the number of years of professional experience, the availability of PPE, training on PCI, and the use of barrier measures. Data were analyzed using SPSS v. 22.0; Chi-square with a level of significance at 5%, and univariate test with logistic regression to determine odd ratios.
Results: four hundred and fifty-eight (458) HFPs were recruited and grouped in clinical, laboratory, and non-clinical staff. The sex ratio was 0.73 in favor of females. 32-55 years old was the most represented age group. The proportion of COVID-19 active cases (7.4%) was higher in non-clinical staff (OR=2.9; P=0.029; CI:1.1-7.6) and lower amongst less than one year of experienced personnel: 8.8% (OR=0.29; CI: 0.089- 0.99; P= 0.049). The degree of exposure (42.2%) was higher in non-clinical staff: 65.2% (OR=2; CI: 1.0- 4.0; P=0.05). Exposure was not age-dependent (P>0.05). 50% of infected HFPs had IgG antibodies. PPE was more available for laboratory staff: 37.3% (OR=2; CI: 1.4- 3.8; P=0.01) and always wearing a mask was significantly associated with antibody seropositivity (OR 1.86, CI: 1.23-2.8, p=0.003). Only ¼ of HFPs had attended training on PCI, and the difference was significant between Public and private health facilities (P<0.05).
Conclusion: health care facilities still face enormous challenges to contain the spread of the virus during the second wave of COVID-19, and previous exposure to SARS-CoV-2 might not be protective to an acute infection. More capacity building is needed in Health care facilities and professionals to efficiently handle future epidemics, and non-clinical staff should be given more attention during response.
