title: Knowledge and attitude toward Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever in occupationally at-risk Iranian healthcare workers.
abstract: We assessed the knowledge and attitude (K&A) toward Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) of occupationally at-risk healthcare workers (HCWs). A cross-sectional survey was performed in three referral hospitals in the Systan-Baluchestan and Isfahan provinces of Iran where CCHF is highly endemic. In all, 191/209 eligible HCWs were enrolled (response rate: 93%). All but 11 (5.8%) had heard of CCHF. The mean K&A scores of the respondents were 50.34% and 79.25%, respectively. The correlation between K&A was significant (correlation coefficient: 0.542; P<0.001). Being a physician, working in Isfahan (versus the relatively deprived Systan-Baluchestan) and relying on academic material rather than local media were independent factors significantly associated with more knowledge; higher education and laboratory staff with better attitude were also significant factors. Although HCWs showed the best K&A for preventive measures, only 44% wore gloves and masks for contact with CCHF patients and 22% failed to observe any safety measure. Those with a history of percutaneous contact (6.3%) had significantly lower knowledge scores (P=0.047). There is a need to establish professional education campaigns in highly endemic deprived areas in order to improve physicians' attitudes, encourage nurses' use of academic materials and increase the knowledge of less-educated HCWs.
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University, MC, Tehran, Iran. rahnavardi@gmail.com
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rahnavardi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rajaeinejad
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pourmalek
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mardani
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Holakouie-Naieni
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dowlatshahi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006282:Health Personnel; D003225:Hemorrhagic Fever Virus, Crimean-Congo / Q000472:pathogenicity; D006479:Hemorrhagic Fever, Crimean / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D008297:Male; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires