Knowledge, Attitude and Practices Concerning Ebola Viral Disease (Evd) Among Kiu Senior Medical Students on Placement at Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital

ABSTRACT

 Uganda is among the countries that border the north-eastern provinces of DRC where the most recent EVD outbreak by the deadliest of Ebola strains (Zaire) is currently ongoing. Uganda has also been put on high alert by the WHO on possible spread of the disease from DRC (Donald G. McNeil Jr., 2018). Inter-border traffic between DRC and Uganda is enormous, with Uganda harbouring a large number of refugees from the war-torn country. Threat of spread to Uganda has become so real that Uganda has started vaccinating its medics against the disease. A large population of patients served at FPRRH are of Congolese origin, with most on a refugee status. Three suspect haemorrhagic fever cases have been reported at Fort-portal Regional Referral Hospital so far since the EVD outbreak in DRC, sending scares among staff and medical students alike of a possible Ebola outbreak. This was a KAP study on Ebola among senior clerkship medical students of KIU at FPRRH. To assess the knowledge, attitude and practices among KIU senior medical students at FPRRH concerning Ebola and Ebola Viral Disease. A descriptive questionnaire-based cross-sectional study design was used with 42 study participants. Knowledge, attitude and practices of KIU senior clerkship medical students at FPRRH concerning Ebola and Ebola Viral Disease are adequate and favourable. Their take-up of vaccine still needs improvement though. A more pro-active role in vaccine trials especially for conditions of high importance such as Ebola is needed. 

Key words: Ebola, Prevention, Transmission, Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice

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CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION 1.0.BACKGROUND The Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), which was earlier called Ebola haemorrhagic fever is a very severe, and often fatal, disease condition in humankind (Etienne, Burns, & Acree-Conlon, 2015). It is caused by the Ebola virus which belongs to the Filoviridae family and which has 5 different species so far known (Zaire, Bundibugyo, Sudan, Reston and Tai Forest) (Feldmann & Geisbert, 2011). So many outbreaks, like the one in West Africa in 2014, are caused by the Zaire species which incidentally has the highest case fatality rate (CFR). The CFR during outbreaks is as high as 90% (WHO, 2018).