Knowledge, Perception and Practice of Infection Control among Ministry of Health staff during COVID-19 Outbreak in Malaysia
- Author:
Halizah Mat Rifin
1
Author Information
1. Institute for Public Health, National Institutes of Health, Ministry of Health Malaysia
- Collective Name:Shubash Shander Ganapathy; Wan Shakira Rodzlan Hasani; Komathi Perialathan; Manimaran Krishnan Kaundan; Noor Ani Ahmad
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
COVID-19;
Ministry of Health Malaysia healthcare workers;
knowledge;
perception;
practice
- From:International Journal of Public Health Research
2021;11(1):1341-1350
- CountryMalaysia
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Introduction Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) was declared a pandemic in the middle
of March as the disease is highly contagious and spread very quickly
throughout the world. Understanding the knowledge and practice among
healthcare staff is also crucial, especially among the frontlines staff, as they
need to protect themselves and facilitate in educating their patients and public
regarding disease prevention measures. This study's objective is to assess
knowledge, practice, and perception on the effectiveness of the preventive
measures taken by Ministry of Health (MOH) staff to prevent transmission of
the disease and measures they would take should they develop symptoms of
the disease on COVID-19 disease. (TPB).
Methods We conducted a cross-sectional online survey from 30th March 2020 to 6th
April 2020 among the Ministry of Health staff. 1719 staff completed the
survey.
Results The overall correct rate of knowledge was 46.6%. Most participants held good
perceptions (range from 77.8% to 98.4%) and good practices (range from
88.8% to 99.7%) towards COVID-19 preventive measure. Meanwhile, the
preventive measures practices if they develop symptoms of COVID-19 range
from 89.8% to 99.7% and for the perception, it ranges from 85.5% to 98.9%.
Conclusions There are also still some lower percentages of perceptions and practices than
expected. Additional education intervention and campaigns are required to
provide the Ministry of health staff with adequate knowledge towards COVID19 main symptoms, general knowledge and transmission route of COVID-19,
and increase some of the perceptions and practices on COVID-19 preventive
measures.
Keywords
- Full text:21.2021my0253.pdf
