Joseph M. Kungu, Edity Namyalo, Angella Musewa, Sarah Nitumusiima, Phiona Keije, Catherine Nakakooza, Osborn Oyirwoth
{"title":"Assessment of Factories on Adherence to COVID-19 Standard Operating Procedures: A Case Study of Wakiso, Mukono, Buikwe, and Jinja Districts, Uganda","authors":"Joseph M. Kungu, Edity Namyalo, Angella Musewa, Sarah Nitumusiima, Phiona Keije, Catherine Nakakooza, Osborn Oyirwoth","doi":"10.1155/2024/6670510","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<i>Background</i>. Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Uganda confirmed the first case of COVID-19 on 21st March, 2020, which led to the first total lockdown in the country. During the lockdown, some factories remained operational; hence, there is a need for a study aimed at assessing the level of adherence to COVID-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs) in factories as a mitigator for the pandemic. <i>Methods</i>. A cross-sectional study to assess compliance of factories to COVID-19 SOPs was conducted in Wakiso, Mukono, Buikwe, and Jinja districts during the month of September, 2021. This involved visitation of factories and collection of data using the KoboCollect tool by interviewing general managers as well as human resource managers of the factories. A total of 39 factories were included in the study and were categorized into four major groups; food and beverages (15), plastics (5), construction (8), and others (11). Data analysis was done using STATA version 14.2. <i>Results</i>. Overall adherence to COVID-19 SOPs by the factories was 64.1% (95% CI = 49.1–79.1). Communication and training of employees (79.5%; 95% CI = 66.8–92.2), wearing personal protective equipment (PPE), and respiratory protection (79.5%; 95% CI = 66.8–92.2) as well as enhanced cleaning and disinfection of surfaces (74.4%; 95% CI = 60.6–88.1) were the most implemented SOPs in the factories. Implementation of the SOPs was the highest in Mukono district (88.9%; 95% CI = 68.4–100) and the least in Wakiso district (40.0%; 95% CI = 9.6–70.4). The COVID-19 SOPs were followed mostly in construction material factories (87.5%; 95% CI = 64.6–100) and least in food and beverage factories (40%; 95% CI = 15.2–64.8). There was no significant difference in the adherence of COVID-19 SOPs among the districts (<svg height=\"11.6412pt\" style=\"vertical-align:-0.04979992pt\" version=\"1.1\" viewbox=\"-0.0498162 -11.5914 15.0284 11.6412\" width=\"15.0284pt\" xmlns=\"http://www.w3.org/2000/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink\"><g transform=\"matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,0,0)\"></path></g><g transform=\"matrix(.0091,0,0,-0.0091,9.945,-5.741)\"></path></g></svg> = 5.02 and <span><svg height=\"8.8423pt\" style=\"vertical-align:-0.2064009pt\" version=\"1.1\" viewbox=\"-0.0498162 -8.6359 19.289 8.8423\" width=\"19.289pt\" xmlns=\"http://www.w3.org/2000/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink\"><g transform=\"matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,0,0)\"></path></g><g transform=\"matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,11.658,0)\"></path></g></svg><span></span><span><svg height=\"8.8423pt\" style=\"vertical-align:-0.2064009pt\" version=\"1.1\" viewbox=\"22.8711838 -8.6359 21.918 8.8423\" width=\"21.918pt\" xmlns=\"http://www.w3.org/2000/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink\"><g transform=\"matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,22.921,0)\"></path></g><g transform=\"matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,29.161,0)\"></path></g><g transform=\"matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,32.125,0)\"></path></g><g transform=\"matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,38.365,0)\"></path></g></svg>)</span></span> and factories (<svg height=\"11.6412pt\" style=\"vertical-align:-0.04979992pt\" version=\"1.1\" viewbox=\"-0.0498162 -11.5914 15.0284 11.6412\" width=\"15.0284pt\" xmlns=\"http://www.w3.org/2000/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink\"><g transform=\"matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,0,0)\"><use xlink:href=\"#g113-89\"></use></g><g transform=\"matrix(.0091,0,0,-0.0091,9.945,-5.741)\"><use xlink:href=\"#g50-51\"></use></g></svg> = 7.04 and <span><svg height=\"8.8423pt\" style=\"vertical-align:-0.2064009pt\" version=\"1.1\" viewbox=\"-0.0498162 -8.6359 19.289 8.8423\" width=\"19.289pt\" xmlns=\"http://www.w3.org/2000/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink\"><g transform=\"matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,0,0)\"><use xlink:href=\"#g113-81\"></use></g><g transform=\"matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,11.658,0)\"><use xlink:href=\"#g117-34\"></use></g></svg><span></span><span><svg height=\"8.8423pt\" style=\"vertical-align:-0.2064009pt\" version=\"1.1\" viewbox=\"22.8711838 -8.6359 21.918 8.8423\" width=\"21.918pt\" xmlns=\"http://www.w3.org/2000/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink\"><g transform=\"matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,22.921,0)\"><use xlink:href=\"#g113-49\"></use></g><g transform=\"matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,29.161,0)\"><use xlink:href=\"#g113-47\"></use></g><g transform=\"matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,32.125,0)\"><use xlink:href=\"#g113-49\"></use></g><g transform=\"matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,38.365,0)\"><use xlink:href=\"#g113-56\"></use></g></svg>).</span></span> Although good overall adherence to SOPs noted was not dependent on location and type of factory, adherence to some SOPs such as exposure control plan, presence of signages on COVID-19, maintenance of social distance, and implementation of a health control plan varied with location of the district. Likewise, exposure control plan, signages on COVID-19, and maintenance of social distance varied significantly with the type of factory. <i>Conclusion</i>. This study revealed moderately good overall adherence to COVID-19 SOPs by factories, with variations in the level of implementation of individual SOPs being observed.","PeriodicalId":17527,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Tropical Medicine","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1000,"publicationDate":"2024-01-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Tropical Medicine","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2024/6670510","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background. Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Uganda confirmed the first case of COVID-19 on 21st March, 2020, which led to the first total lockdown in the country. During the lockdown, some factories remained operational; hence, there is a need for a study aimed at assessing the level of adherence to COVID-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs) in factories as a mitigator for the pandemic. Methods. A cross-sectional study to assess compliance of factories to COVID-19 SOPs was conducted in Wakiso, Mukono, Buikwe, and Jinja districts during the month of September, 2021. This involved visitation of factories and collection of data using the KoboCollect tool by interviewing general managers as well as human resource managers of the factories. A total of 39 factories were included in the study and were categorized into four major groups; food and beverages (15), plastics (5), construction (8), and others (11). Data analysis was done using STATA version 14.2. Results. Overall adherence to COVID-19 SOPs by the factories was 64.1% (95% CI = 49.1–79.1). Communication and training of employees (79.5%; 95% CI = 66.8–92.2), wearing personal protective equipment (PPE), and respiratory protection (79.5%; 95% CI = 66.8–92.2) as well as enhanced cleaning and disinfection of surfaces (74.4%; 95% CI = 60.6–88.1) were the most implemented SOPs in the factories. Implementation of the SOPs was the highest in Mukono district (88.9%; 95% CI = 68.4–100) and the least in Wakiso district (40.0%; 95% CI = 9.6–70.4). The COVID-19 SOPs were followed mostly in construction material factories (87.5%; 95% CI = 64.6–100) and least in food and beverage factories (40%; 95% CI = 15.2–64.8). There was no significant difference in the adherence of COVID-19 SOPs among the districts ( = 5.02 and ) and factories ( = 7.04 and ). Although good overall adherence to SOPs noted was not dependent on location and type of factory, adherence to some SOPs such as exposure control plan, presence of signages on COVID-19, maintenance of social distance, and implementation of a health control plan varied with location of the district. Likewise, exposure control plan, signages on COVID-19, and maintenance of social distance varied significantly with the type of factory. Conclusion. This study revealed moderately good overall adherence to COVID-19 SOPs by factories, with variations in the level of implementation of individual SOPs being observed.
期刊介绍:
Journal of Tropical Medicine is a peer-reviewed, Open Access journal that publishes original research articles, review articles, and clinical studies on all aspects of tropical diseases. Articles on the pathology, diagnosis, and treatment of tropical diseases, parasites and their hosts, epidemiology, and public health issues will be considered. Journal of Tropical Medicine aims to facilitate the communication of advances addressing global health and mortality relating to tropical diseases.