Health literacy and preparedness for outbreak of Marburg Virus Disease among doctors and nurses at a reference treatment centre for viral hemorrhagic diseases in Nigeria

Abstract

Introduction Marburg virus disease (MVD), a re-emerging viral haemorrhagic disease resurfaced in West Africa with a 2022 outbreak in Ghana, posing an increased threat to Nigeria. Already facing outbreaks of Lassa fever and Mpox, Nigeria remains vulnerable to the devastating impact of a potential MVD outbreak. This study assessed the readiness and health literacy levels of doctors and nurses at a reference centre for viral haemorrhagic diseases in Nigeria to evaluate MVD preparedness. Methods A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in which healthcare workers across different specialties in a viral haemorrhagic reference centre in Nigeria were surveyed. Data was collected between May and July 2024 using semi-structured questionnaires. Frequencies and proportions were calculated for categorical variables and associations between them were tested for using chi-square tests. Results A total of 216 healthcare workers participated, comprising 126 doctors (58.3%) and 90 nurses (41.7%). The median age of nurses was 38 years while that of doctors was 29 years. Knowledge of Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) symptoms was higher among doctors (83, 65.9%) than among nurses (42, 46.7%), with fever (68.0%) being the most recognized symptom. Only 19.1% of doctors and 10.0% of nurses had received formal training on MVD. Doctors (69.1%) were more aware of MVD risk factors, such as close contact with infected individuals, compared to nurses (46.7%) (P<0.001). Confidence in hospital preparedness was lower among doctors (32.5%) than nurses (65.6%) (P<0.001). Most participants recommended regular training (84.9% of doctors, 66.7% of nurses) and seminars (69.1% of doctors, 46.7% of nurses) to enhance preparedness for MVD. Conclusion Healthcare workers demonstrated variable knowledge and limited formal training on MVD. Training and awareness programs on MVD are recommended to address knowledge gaps and strengthen preparedness and response to MVD outbreaks in Nigeria.