Authors : Simaya Ladu James; Sujeet Kumar Singh

Volume/Issue : Volume 10 - 2025, Issue 9 - September

Google Scholar : https://tinyurl.com/yckcdfp7

Scribd : https://tinyurl.com/msw2ke6b

DOI : https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/25sep817

Note : A published paper may take 4-5 working days from the publication date to appear in PlumX Metrics, Semantic Scholar, and ResearchGate.

Note : Google Scholar may take 30 to 40 days to display the article.

Abstract : The third Sustainable Development Goal (SDG3) of the United Nations aims to ensure the healthy and well-being of people of all ages. SDG3 is further divided into sub-goals addressing different health challenges, aiming to reduce their global impact by 2030. To combat diseases, SDG3 has sub-goals devoted to communicable diseases. Healthcare professionals are considered a vulnerable group due to the contagious nature of Ebola, which carries a high risk of mortality. This study, aligned with SDG3, aims to assess healthcare workers' comprehension of the Ebola virus disease (EVD) in Yei River County, South Sudan. Since healthcare staff play a vital role in minimizing the risk of transmission in several ways, evaluating their attitude is of utmost importance. Consequently, an empirical study has been conducted. A cross-sectional study of 133 healthcare professionals working in health centers of Yei River County was conducted using a combination of purposive and simple random sampling methods. Data was collected via questionnaires that included demographic information, as well as knowledge, attitude, and practice questions pertaining to EVD. SPSS version 21.0 was utilized for data analysis. The study demonstrates that 93% of respondents possess knowledge regarding EVD, with health workers (43.3%) and radio (56.7%) being the primary sources of information. Regarding symptoms of EVD, 50% of respondents indicated bleeding, while 53% recognized bodily contact with an infected person as a potential transmission route. Notably, there is a significant dearth of positive attitudes among health workers responsible for handling EVD patients. There was a subpar level of compliance with EVD prevention measures amongst health workers, with just 43.3% washing their hands regularly, 46.7% washing them once each day, a mere 30% utilizing hand washing as a preventive measure, and 40% of them using PPE for such purposes. A non-parametric analysis employing the Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test was performed to investigate the potential link between the educational level of healthcare workers and their Ebola disease knowledge, attitude, and practice. The findings demonstrate a significant association between the level of education of healthcare workers and their knowledge, attitude, and practice of Ebola disease since the t-test statistic is -4.80, which is less than the p-value of 0.001. As health worker knowledge regarding Ebola virus disease (EVD) is currently at a moderate level, it is recommended that training and intervention programs be implemented for healthcare workers. Particular emphasis should be placed on transmission routes and signs of EVD in order to improve participants' knowledge and attitudes towards the disease.

Keywords : Ebolavirus, Knowledge, Attitude, Health Personnel.

References :

1. Carter, S. E., O’Reilly, M., Walden, V., Frith-Powell, J., Umar Kargbo, A., & Niederberger, E. (2017). Barriers and enablers to treatment-seeking behavior and causes of high-risk practices in Ebola: a case study from Sierra Leone. Journalof health communication, 22(sup1), 31-38.
2. Torreele, E., Boum, Y., Adjaho, I., Alé, F. G. B., Issoufou, S. H., Harczi, G., ... & Olliaro, P. (2023). Breakthrough treatments for Ebola virus disease, but no access—what went wrong, and how can we do better?. The Lancet Infectious Diseases.
3. Kiggundu, T., Ario, A. R., Kadobera, D., Kwesiga, B., Migisha, R., Makumbi, I., ... & Namusisi, O. (2022). Notes from the field: outbreak of Ebola virus disease caused by Sudan ebolavirus—Uganda, August–October 2022. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 71(45), 1457.
4. Eurosurveillance Editorial Team. (2019). Ebola public health emergency of international concern, democratic republic of the congo, 2019. Eurosurveillance, 24(29).
5. Gupta, S., Gupta, N., Yadav, P., & Patil, D. (2021). Ebola virus outbreak preparedness plan for developing Nations: Lessons learnt from affected countries. Journal of Infection and Public Health, 14(3), 293-305.
6. Juga, M. L., Nyabadza, F., & Chirove, F. (2021). An Ebola virus disease model with fear and environmental transmission dynamics. Infectious Disease Modelling, 6, 545.
7. Karafillakis, E., Jalloh, M. F., Nuriddin, A., Larson, H. J., Whitworth, J., Lees, S., ... & Morgan, O. (2016). ‘Once there is life, there is hope’Ebola survivors' experiences, behaviours and attitudes in Sierra Leone, 2015. BMJ global health, 1(3), e000108.
8. Kangbai, J. B., Senesis, T., Juana, J., Team, E. O. C., & Team, W. H. O. (2022). An Assessment of the Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice towards Ebola and Marburg Fever amongst Residents in Kailahun District, Sierra Leone. Annals of Medical and Health Sciences Research| Volume, 12(6), 2.
9. Riad, M. H., Sekamatte, M., & Ocom, F. (2019). Risk assessment of ebola virus disease spreading in uganda using a two-layer temporal network. Sci Rep.
10. Schmidt-Sane, M. M., Nielsen, J. O., Chikombero, M., Lubowa, D., Lwanga, M., Gamusi, J., ... & Kaawa-Mafigiri, D. (2020). Challenges to Ebola preparedness during an ongoing outbreak: An analysis of borderland livelihoods and trust in Uganda. PLoS One, 15(3), e0230683.
11. Shoman, H., Karafillakis, E., & Rawaf, S. (2017). The link between the West African Ebola outbreak and health systems in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone: a systematic review. Globalization and health, 13(1), 1-22.
12. Guetiya Wadoum, R. E., Sevalie, S., Minutolo, A., Clarke, A., Russo, G., Colizzi, V., ... & Montesano, C. (2021). The 2018–2020 ebola outbreak in the democratic Republic of Congo: A better response had been achieved through inter-state coordination in Africa. Risk management and healthcare policy, 4923-4930.
13. World Health Organization. (2018). Ebola Virus Disease Democratic Republic of Congo: External Situation Report 14.
14. Aruna, A., Mbala, P., Minikulu, L., Mukadi, D., Bulemfu, D., Edidi, F., ... & Worrell, M. C. (2019). Ebola virus disease outbreak—democratic republic of the Congo, August 2018–November 2019. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 68(50), 1162.
15. Rewar, S., & Mirdha, D. (2014). Transmission of Ebola virus disease: an overview. Annals of global health, 80(6), 444-451.
16. World Health Organization. (2022). Disease Outbreak News; Ebola Disease Caused by Sudan Virus—Uganda.