Assessment Of The Implementation Of Covid-19 Prevention Protocols In Selected Health Facilities In The Kassena Nankana District Of Ghana

Abstract

Background: In 2020, World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic and recommended key preventive protocols, such as proper and frequent handwashing, physical distancing, and wearing of face masks, to contain the spread of the disease. Effective implementation of these protocols faced several challenges for health workers and non-healthcare workers. Aim: The study assessed the implementation of COVID-19 prevention protocols in selected health facilities in the Kassena-Nankana districts. Method: The study employed a hospital-based cross-sectional study design, using a quantitative and qualitative research approach including observations, surveys, facility assessments, and in- depth interviews to answer the research questions. Qualitative data were coded and analyzed thematically using NVivo 12 qualitative analysis software while bivariate analysis and a multivariate logistic regression model were used to determine the actual factors associated with adherence to COVID-19 protocols. Results: Overall, adherence to prevention protocols was low with about 61.1% of participants having low adherence. Participants had adequate knowledge of COVID-19 prevention protocols (60.7%) but health facilities struggled to make available the prevention protocol materials. Knowledge and enforcement were found to be the factors that influence low adherence as participants with inadequate knowledge were two times more likely (2.30) (p-value; <0.001) to have low adherence and participants who were not reminded about the protocols being six times (5.78; p-value; <0.001) more likely to have low adherence. Implementation challenges included logistics, implementer motivation, facility environment, and finance. Conclusion: The study concludes that adequate knowledge of COVID-19 in the district did not positively reflect adherence, as expected. Health facilities in the district lack prevention protocol materials to effectively implement the protocols. Inadequate knowledge and poor enforcement significantly influence low adherence and the key challenges of logistics, finance, lack of cooperation, the burden of work, security challenges, and the hospital environment impede the implementation of the prevention protocols in the health facilities within the KND. Lessons learned in this study should guide.