| dc.description.abstract | Background: During the pandemic, health care workers were at a high risk of contracting the Covid-19 infections. This study sought to establish the COVID-19 infections and predisposing risk factors among HCWs in Kampala, Uganda. Methods: The 372 healthcare workers from the seven (07) public health facilities in Kampala Capital City were selected using proportionate stratified random sampling. The data was collected using researcher administered questionnaires. It was analyzed using Stata version 16; means were compared using a student’s t-test. The proportions of COVID-19 infections were analyzed using the Pearson’s chi-square (X²) and the risk factors to covid-19 infections were analyzed using the Modified Poisson regression model using the backward stepwise method. Results: Out of the 372 study participants, 127 (34.1%) reported to have contracted covid-19 infection during the study period. 37 (29.1%) of the cases got infected more than once. Among the nurses there were 60 cases (38.7%), Doctors 26 cases (38.2%) and among the support staff there were 13 cases (21.7%). The most common symptoms were Headache 116 (91.3%), fever 108 (85%), cough 79 (62.2%), general body weakness 74 (58.3%), chills 57 (44.9%, loss of appetite 53 (41.7%), sore throat 45 (35.4%) and loss of sense of smell 39 (30.7%); 8 cases (6.3%) were asymptomatic. Being older than 33 years (PR =1.48, P= 0.007, 95% CI; 1.11 to 1.97), having a health condition (PR =2.18, P= <0.001, 95% CI; 1.67 to 2.84), un availability of sanitizer (PR =1.78, P= <0.001, 95% CI; 1.36 to 2.35), observing social distance with workmates (PR =0.57, P= 0.008, 95% CI; 0.38 to 0.86), working on more than 25 patients a day (PR =1.34, P= <0.043, 95% CI; 1.01 to 1.79), Having a roommate/family member diagnosed with Covid-19 (PR=2.0, P=<0.001, 95% CI; 1.53 to 2.61) and feeling stressed (PR =1.77, P= <0.011, 95% CI; 1.14 to 2.74), were found to be significantly associated with Covid-19 infection. Conclusion: The prevalence of the covid-19 among HCWs in Kampala was 34.1% (127 cases) and 29.1% (37 HCWs) got infected more than once. Being elderly, having an underlying health condition, unavailability of sanitizer, high workload, having a roommate/family member diagnosed with Covid-19 and feeling stressed were significant risk factors. While observing social distance with workmates reduced the risk of contracting the Covid-19 infection among HCWs. | en_US |
