Knowledge, attitude of health-care workers and effect on patients-seeking health-care services in Ado, Ekiti State, during coronavirus disease-2019 pandemic: A pilot cross-sectional survey

Aims: This study was aimed to assess the knowledge of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and document its effect on accessing health-care services among individuals living in Ado, Ekiti State, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: The study was a cross-sectional pilot survey. Respondents consisted of 100 randomly selected individuals of different socioeconomic, educational, and age groups. The questionnaire consisted of 10 questions. It was distributed online. The survey lasted from June 10 to 28, 2020. Results: Sixty percent (60%) of respondents were males and 40% females. Knowledge and belief that COVID-19 was real were high (94%). Fifty–seven percent (57%) of respondents had need for healthcare, but did not visit health-care facility (HCF), 17 (17%) visited and 26 (26%) had no need to visit. Of the 57 (57%) who did not visit HCF, they attributed it to various reasons-health care workers (HCW) would think they have COVID-19, 8 (19%); HCW would not be at the facility 16 (37%) and lockdown 19 (44%). The 12 (48%) who visited HCF reported that HCWs attended to them, 9 (36%) were neither attended to nor referred and 4 (16%) referred. Forty–six percent (46%) reported many have died at home due to inability to access HCF and others had varying opinions. Conclusion: This study has shown that knowledge and belief on COVID-19 among residents in Ado was high. However, limitation due to the lockdown could have great effects on access to health-care services and the disposition of HCWs to attend to those who may be in need of health care.