COVID-19 prevention and preparedness among healthcare workers in Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone's health system has faced significant challenges, including the long-term impacts of the 2014 Ebola outbreak, prolonged conflicts before that, and economic factors contributing to the fragility of healthcare systems in many low-income settings. This qualitative study explores COVID-19 prevention practices among healthcare workers in the context of their past experiences with disease outbreaks.

This study aims to understand COVID-19 prevention practices among healthcare workers in Sierra Leone and how their past experiences with disease outbreaks influence these practices.

The study was conducted in three districts of Sierra Leone - Freetown, Makeni and Kenema - focusing on healthcare workers in a low-income setting with ongoing public health challenges.

In-depth interviews were conducted with 24 healthcare workers, and the data were analysed for themes using the Health Belief Model and Theory of Planned Behaviour.

Healthcare workers demonstrated positive attitudes and strict adherence to infection prevention measures, influenced by their Ebola outbreak experience. Barriers included limited personal protective equipment and social disapproval.

Interventions should focus on improving access to infection prevention tools and combating disapproval through community engagement. These findings are crucial for enhancing infectious disease prevention among healthcare workers in low-income settings.

This study provides insights into how past outbreak experiences influence disease prevention practices among healthcare workers in Sierra Leone, highlighting the need to address adherence barriers. These findings contribute to a broader understanding of infectious disease prevention in low-income settings and enhance global efforts in preparing for future public health emergencies.