Knowledge, Attitude and Prevention Practices of Lassa Fever by Staff of University of Benin, Benin City

Abstract

Endemicity of Lassa fever in Nigeria is a major public health challenge. Epidemiological reports have consistently shown that Lassa fever is a potentially life-threatening and highly infectious disease. This study assessed the knowledge, attitude and measures to prevent Lassa fever, by staff of University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. The study was a cross-sectional survey of socio-demographics, knowledge, attitude and prevention of Lassa fever by 301 randomly selected consenting staffof the University of Benin, Benin City, using pre-tested structured questionnaires. The SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 22) was used for descriptive and inferential analysis using Chi-square test at a significant level of p=0.05. Awareness of Lassa fever and and vector (Mastomys rats) was high (96.3% and 62.5% of respondents know that the Mastomys rat was the reservoir of Lassa fever virus; 54.5% and 67.1%, knew that Lassa fever was transmitted by contact with blood/secretions and urine/feces of infected rats; only 9.3% knew that Lassa fever could be transmitted through sexual intercourse. Respondents’ knowledge of predisposing factors to Lassa fever infection included: traditional practicessuch as the handling of infected corpses (80.7%), poor compliance to standard precautions (46.2%), direct contact with infected person (49.2%) or eating of rodent (81.1%).Respondents (75.4%) perceived Lassa fever as a very serious disease.Attitude of respondents was significantly associated with risk awareness (p<0.004) and perception (p<0.007) respectively, rather than with knowledge (p<0.525). Preventive practices was significantly associated with older staff (p<0.02) and risk awareness (p<0.007). Awareness and risk perception of Lassa fever were very high, but specific knowledge of mode of transmission, and behaviors that increase risk of exposure to Lassa fever, were low.
Key words: Lassa fever, Preventive, Knowledge, Attitude, Mastomys natalensis, Risk