COVID-19 Biosecurity Protective Items Utilization at the Point of Care: A CrossSectional Study of Drivers, Barriers, Benefits and Perceived Dangers among Frontline Medical Doctors in Non-COVID-19 Hospitals in Abia State, Nigeria.

Background: Globally, COVID-19 is an emerging health problem. As the spread of COVID-19 infection continues worldwide, measures to protect frontline doctors have been in the spotlight on international biosecurity discussions especially in countries with weak health system and infrastructure.

Aim: The study was aimed at describing the drivers, barriers, benefits and perceived dangers of utilization of COVID-19 biosecurity protective items at the point of care among frontline doctors in non-COVID-19 hospitals in Abia State.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study on 220 frontline doctors in Abia State. Data were collected using self-administered questionnaire that elicited information on utilization of COVID-19 biosecurity items (face masks, face shields, hand sanitizers, disinfectant sprays, hand gloves). The drivers, barriers, benefits, and perceived dangers of utilization of biosecurity items were also studied. Utilization was assessed in the preceding 7 days and graded using utilization ordinal scoring system of 0-4 as follows: Always=4 points; most times=3 points; occasional=2 points, rarely=1 point and never=0 point. Those that scored 1 and above were graded as users while 0 score was graded as non-user.

Results: The study participants were aged 24-68 years (mean=32±8.4 years). There were 162(73.6%) males. All the respondents (100%) had used at least one of the biosecurity protective items in the previous 7 days. The most commonly used biosecurity items were face masks (100%) and hand-gloves (100%). Others included hand sanitizers (90.0%), face shields (55.5%) and disinfectant sprays (43.2%). The most common driver was availability of biosecurity items (100.0%). The commonest barrier was physical discomfort and fatigue (100.0%). The commonest benefits were self-protection from contracting COVID-19 (100.0%) and prevention of transmission to patients, colleagues and significant others (100.0%). The most commonly perceived dangers were suffocation (87.7%) and skin irritation (76.4%) for face masks and hand sanitizers respectively.

Conclusion: The most commonly used biosecurity items were face masks and hand gloves while the least utilized was disinfectant sprays. The commonest driver was availability of biosecurity protective items. The most common barrier was physical discomfort and fatigue while the predominant benefits were protection from contracting COVID-19 and transmission to patients, colleagues, and significant others. The most commonly perceived dangers were suffocation and skin irritation for face masks and hand sanitizers respectively.