A Case-Control Study of Risks factors for corona virus (covid 19) amongHealth Care Worker

Abstract

Background and Aim: The ongoing epidemics of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have caused serious problems on public health, particularly affecting the health care workers worldwide. There are limited data on number of staff affected by this serious and fatal diseases in national and international level. This study aims to find out the cause of risk of virus transmission and spread among the health worker in Herat Regional Public Hospital, Herat–Afghanistan. Method: We conducted a retrospective case control study to figure out the risk factors of novel covid 19 infection amongst health care workers in Herat Regional Hospital–Afghanistan in late April 2020 approximately 2 months from first case of diseases confirmation in Afghanistan which occurred here in Herat. The staff were divided into two group each of 26. The case group (n=26) were the ones with positive PCR test, while the control group (n=26) were those health workers with same criteria with negative PCR test result, the control group were randomly selected of 178 negative PCR by an administrative colleague who did not have a role in data analysis. Both groups had close contacted with positive covid 19 patients. The data were entered in spreadsheet and analyzed using Epi info 7. Results: Regardless the type of job and place of work, the risk of infection was 4 times higher in those without prior training comparing those who had received a covid 19 training prior to exposure to the disease (OR=4:00, P<0.05, CI 95%). Mean age in the case group was slightly higher (33.9 year) comparing to the control group (30.7 year). Fever was the most common complain of both groups but more common in the case group comparing to the control (70%, 30%) respectively, this finding was significant, p=<0.05. Interestingly, shortness of breath was more common in control group comparing to the case group (30%, 7%). This was statically significant, P=<0.05 more than 50% of positive staff were belongs to two categories; nurses and residents (n=11, n=7) respectively. Comparison of sex, the place and types of job showed no significant differences in being either safe or at more risk of getting infection. Conclusion: Health care workers are at higher risk of getting and transmitting infections from/to the patients. A comprehensive training prior to any exposure to a contagious disease is mandatory to decrease the risk for infection transmission among health care workers, KAP survey may give further information and is suggested.