Comprehensive occupational health services for healthcare workers in Zimbabwe during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.
<h4>Background</h4>Healthcare workers are disproportionately affected by COVID-19. In low- and middle- income countries, they may be particularly impacted by underfunded health systems, lack of personal protective equipment, challenging working conditions and barriers in accessing person...
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2021
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oai:doaj.org-article:abc0339806374ac99e8eb57019d83b3d2021-12-02T20:16:12ZComprehensive occupational health services for healthcare workers in Zimbabwe during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.1932-620310.1371/journal.pone.0260261https://doaj.org/article/abc0339806374ac99e8eb57019d83b3d2021-01-01T00:00:00Zhttps://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0260261https://doaj.org/toc/1932-6203<h4>Background</h4>Healthcare workers are disproportionately affected by COVID-19. In low- and middle- income countries, they may be particularly impacted by underfunded health systems, lack of personal protective equipment, challenging working conditions and barriers in accessing personal healthcare.<h4>Methods</h4>In this cross-sectional study, occupational health screening was implemented at the largest public sector medical centre in Harare, Zimbabwe, during the "first wave" of the country's COVID-19 epidemic. Clients were voluntarily screened for symptoms of COVID-19, and if present, offered a SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid detection assay. In addition, measurement of height, weight, blood pressure and HbA1c, HIV and TB testing, and mental health screening using the Shona Symptom Questionnaire (SSQ-14) were offered. An interviewer-administered questionnaire ascertained client knowledge and experiences related to COVID-19.<h4>Results</h4>Between 27th July and 30th October 2020, 951 healthcare workers accessed the service; 210 (22%) were tested for SARS-CoV-2, of whom 12 (5.7%) tested positive. Clients reported high levels of concern about COVID-19 which declined with time, and faced barriers including lack of resources for infection prevention and control. There was a high prevalence of largely undiagnosed non-communicable disease: 61% were overweight or obese, 34% had a blood pressure of 140/90mmHg or above, 10% had an HbA1c diagnostic of diabetes, and 7% had an SSQ-14 score consistent with a common mental disorder. Overall 8% were HIV-positive, with 97% previously diagnosed and on treatment.<h4>Conclusions</h4>Cases of SARS-CoV-2 in healthcare workers mirrored the national epidemic curve. Implementation of comprehensive occupational health services during a pandemic was feasible, and uptake was high. Other comorbidities were highly prevalent, which may be risk factors for severe COVID-19 but are also important independent causes of morbidity and mortality. Healthcare workers are critical to combatting COVID-19; it is essential to support their physical and psychological wellbeing during the pandemic and beyond.Fungai KavengaHannah M RickmanRudo ChingonoTinotenda TaruvingaTakudzwa MaremboJusten ManasaEdson MarambireGrace McHughCelia L GregsonTsitsi BandasonNicol RedzoAspect MaunganidzeTsitsi MagureChiratidzo NdhlovuHilda MujuruSimbarashe RusakanikoPortia ManangaziraRashida A FerrandKatharina KranzerPublic Library of Science (PLoS)articleMedicineRScienceQENPLoS ONE, Vol 16, Iss 11, p e0260261 (2021) |
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DOAJ |
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| topic |
Medicine R Science Q |
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Medicine R Science Q Fungai Kavenga Hannah M Rickman Rudo Chingono Tinotenda Taruvinga Takudzwa Marembo Justen Manasa Edson Marambire Grace McHugh Celia L Gregson Tsitsi Bandason Nicol Redzo Aspect Maunganidze Tsitsi Magure Chiratidzo Ndhlovu Hilda Mujuru Simbarashe Rusakaniko Portia Manangazira Rashida A Ferrand Katharina Kranzer Comprehensive occupational health services for healthcare workers in Zimbabwe during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. |
| description |
<h4>Background</h4>Healthcare workers are disproportionately affected by COVID-19. In low- and middle- income countries, they may be particularly impacted by underfunded health systems, lack of personal protective equipment, challenging working conditions and barriers in accessing personal healthcare.<h4>Methods</h4>In this cross-sectional study, occupational health screening was implemented at the largest public sector medical centre in Harare, Zimbabwe, during the "first wave" of the country's COVID-19 epidemic. Clients were voluntarily screened for symptoms of COVID-19, and if present, offered a SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid detection assay. In addition, measurement of height, weight, blood pressure and HbA1c, HIV and TB testing, and mental health screening using the Shona Symptom Questionnaire (SSQ-14) were offered. An interviewer-administered questionnaire ascertained client knowledge and experiences related to COVID-19.<h4>Results</h4>Between 27th July and 30th October 2020, 951 healthcare workers accessed the service; 210 (22%) were tested for SARS-CoV-2, of whom 12 (5.7%) tested positive. Clients reported high levels of concern about COVID-19 which declined with time, and faced barriers including lack of resources for infection prevention and control. There was a high prevalence of largely undiagnosed non-communicable disease: 61% were overweight or obese, 34% had a blood pressure of 140/90mmHg or above, 10% had an HbA1c diagnostic of diabetes, and 7% had an SSQ-14 score consistent with a common mental disorder. Overall 8% were HIV-positive, with 97% previously diagnosed and on treatment.<h4>Conclusions</h4>Cases of SARS-CoV-2 in healthcare workers mirrored the national epidemic curve. Implementation of comprehensive occupational health services during a pandemic was feasible, and uptake was high. Other comorbidities were highly prevalent, which may be risk factors for severe COVID-19 but are also important independent causes of morbidity and mortality. Healthcare workers are critical to combatting COVID-19; it is essential to support their physical and psychological wellbeing during the pandemic and beyond. |
| format |
article |
| author |
Fungai Kavenga Hannah M Rickman Rudo Chingono Tinotenda Taruvinga Takudzwa Marembo Justen Manasa Edson Marambire Grace McHugh Celia L Gregson Tsitsi Bandason Nicol Redzo Aspect Maunganidze Tsitsi Magure Chiratidzo Ndhlovu Hilda Mujuru Simbarashe Rusakaniko Portia Manangazira Rashida A Ferrand Katharina Kranzer |
| author_facet |
Fungai Kavenga Hannah M Rickman Rudo Chingono Tinotenda Taruvinga Takudzwa Marembo Justen Manasa Edson Marambire Grace McHugh Celia L Gregson Tsitsi Bandason Nicol Redzo Aspect Maunganidze Tsitsi Magure Chiratidzo Ndhlovu Hilda Mujuru Simbarashe Rusakaniko Portia Manangazira Rashida A Ferrand Katharina Kranzer |
| author_sort |
Fungai Kavenga |
| title |
Comprehensive occupational health services for healthcare workers in Zimbabwe during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. |
| title_short |
Comprehensive occupational health services for healthcare workers in Zimbabwe during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. |
| title_full |
Comprehensive occupational health services for healthcare workers in Zimbabwe during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. |
| title_fullStr |
Comprehensive occupational health services for healthcare workers in Zimbabwe during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. |
| title_full_unstemmed |
Comprehensive occupational health services for healthcare workers in Zimbabwe during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. |
| title_sort |
comprehensive occupational health services for healthcare workers in zimbabwe during the sars-cov-2 pandemic. |
| publisher |
Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| publishDate |
2021 |
| url |
https://doaj.org/article/abc0339806374ac99e8eb57019d83b3d |
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