Factors influencing healthcare workers' acceptance of voluntary COVID-19 PCR testing during the peak of the pandemic: Insights from a Nigerian tertiary facility
Authors
Temitope Olumuyiwa Ojo, Olusola Fajobi, Olusola Joseph Olarewaju, Baderinwa Opeyemi Akanji, Tajudin Adesegun Adetunji, Olufemi Samuel Smith, Olusola Akanni Jeje, Taiwo Samson Olumakinde, Waidi Folorunso Sule, Sunday Babatunde Akinde, Rahman Ayodele BolarinwaFiles
Abstract
Introduction: COVID-19 surveillance among healthcare workers is vital to prevent hospital transmission. This study assessed healthcare workers' willingness to voluntarily test for SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 234 staff in a Nigerian tertiary healthcare facility using a 25-item questionnaire to obtain information on sociodemographic/occupational characteristics, willingness to have a COVID-19 PCR test and self-perceived barriers to testing. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25, with a significance level set at p < 0.05. Associations were tested using odds ratios with a 95% confidence interval.
Results: The mean age was 40.1±10.7 years with a male to female ratio of approximately 1:1. More than two-thirds of health workers, 159 (68.0%) perceived they were at high risk for COVID-19. Most health workers, 172 (73.5%) were willing to test voluntarily for COVID-19. For persons not willing to be tested, personal reasons (35; 56.5%) and sampling discomfort (13; 21.0%) were reasons for non-willingness to test. Being married or in a union (OR: 0.32, 95% CI: 0.13-0.76; p=0.011), currently showing symptoms suggestive of COVID-19 (OR: 7.51, 95% CI: 2.191-26.70; p=0.002) and previous COVID-19 vaccination (OR: 3.35, 95% CI: 1.58-7.20; p=0.002) were the significant predictors of willingness to test for COVID-19.
Conclusion: Most health workers were willing to take a voluntary COVID-19 PCR test. The main barriers to testing were personal reasons and discomfort with the sample collection. It is important to explore alternative sample collection methods like pooled saliva-based testing and establishing multiple on-site testing centers as ways of improving voluntary testing.
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