Assessment of the level of preparedness for Ebola viral disease in two health facilities in Busia County, Kenya

Abstract

Background: Ebola viral disease is an emerging viral disease caused by Ebola virus of the Filoviridae family. It is an acute febrile disease of sudden onset and is usually associated with a high case fatality rate (50%-90%). Previous Ebola outbreaks have demonstrated weakness in hospital preparedness among other holistic control measures. A key Global Health Security Agenda is to strengthen health systems through preparedness. Health system preparedness is the capacity to detect protect and respond to disease outbreaks. Objectives: - The objectives of this study were to: Assess knowledge of health care providers on detection of Ebola hemorrhagic fever, describe the infection prevention measures in place to protect health care providers from transmission of Ebola in health facilities and assess preparedness of health care providers with regard to response to suspected Ebola cases in health facilities in Busia County. Methods: Study site was Busia County, study population were Health care providers in Busia county hospital and Kocholia Sub County Hospital, study design was descriptive cross-sectional study. 139 health providers were sampled. Stratified sampling was done on health care providers and purposive sampling was used to choose the two health facilities. Data collection was done using questionnaires and key informant interviews and data analysis was done using R software. For qualitative data thematic analysis was used. Results: The average score for knowledge to handle suspected Ebola case was 78.0 (SD: 21.2) with similar averages for the two facilities, Busia: 79.6 (SD: 21.7), and Kocholia: 73.7 (SD: 19.6),. The score for infection prevention and control measures was 67.2 (SD: 21.3) . Analysis of this score by health facility showed that Busia County Hospital had a score of 71.3 (SD:20.8) and Kocholia Sub-County Hospital had a score of 56.8 (SD: 19.2). The average score for the preparedness to respond to suspected Ebola case was 32.0 (SD: 22.2). Analysis by health facilities showed that Busia County Hospital had a score of 37.2 (SD: 22.9) and Kocholia Sub-County Hospital a score of 19.0 (SD: 13.7). Conclusion and recommendation: - Both facilities were not adequately prepared to manage a suspected case of EVD. Both facilities should ensure that health care providers are trained on management of Ebola viral disease. Infection prevention and control guidelines should be implemented. Each hospital should test their level of preparedness through drills.