Symptomatology, Positivity, and Type of Care Received by Healthcare Workers Tested for COVID-۱۹ Infection in a North-Central State in Nigeria: A Retrospective Study

Background: The health of healthcare workers (HCWs) is an indicator of the quality of health service provision during the COVID-۱۹ pandemic.Objectives: This study aimed to describe the symptomatology and positivity of COVID-۱۹ infection and the type of COVID-۱۹ care received among HCWs in a North-Central State in Nigeria.Methods: This was a retrospective review of HCWs tested for COVID-۱۹ as retrieved from the Surveillance Outbreak Response Management System between April ۲۰۲۰ and March ۲۰۲۱ in Kwara State, Nigeria.Results: Among the ۱۴۵۳ HCWs, ۸۳۱ (۵۷.۲%) were above ۳۵ years and, ۸۷۴ (۶۰.۲%) were females. Among the ۲۵۹ HCWs who tested positive for COVID-۱۹, ۱۲۲ (۲۳.۸%) lived in urban areas (χ۲ = ۱۳.۹۴, P ≤ ۰.۰۰۱). Also, ۸۳ (۳۰.۷%) of symptomatic persons tested positive for COVID-۱۹ (χ ۲ = ۳۷.۷۶۶, P ≤ ۰.۰۰۱). Overall, ۳۳ (۱۲.۷%) of the ۲۵۹ positive HCWs received hospital-based COVID-۱۹ care, and ۳۳ (۱۶.۱%) who had less than ۲ symptoms received hospital-based COVID-۱۹ care (χ۲ = ۹.۹۶۲, P = ۰.۰۰۲). HCWs who had cough had three times odds of testing positive for COVID-۱۹ (OR = ۳.۲۹۹, ۹۵% CI = ۱.۵۷۱–۶.۹۲۷, P = ۰.۰۰۲). Also, HCWs who manifested loss of taste had three times odds of testing positive for COVID-۱۹ (OR = ۳.۳۹۲, ۹۵% CI = ۱.۰۱۰–۱۱.۳۹۳, P = ۰.۰۴۸).Conclusion: COVID-۱۹ testing should be encouraged among HCWs, especially those with cough symptoms and loss of taste.

کلیدواژه ها:

COVID-۱۹ ، health workers ، Home care ، Symptoms ، Nigeria