Knowledge, attitudes and practices related to Covid-19 among health professionals in El Jadida Province, Morocco.

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, concerns were raised about the lack of knowledge and awareness of health workers (HW) in hampering the implementation of COVID-19 preventive strategies in hospitals. Objective: This cross-sectional study aims to explore the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of the health workers related to COVID-19 in Moroccan hospitals and health facilities. Materials and methods: We administered an adapted questionnaire to 242 HW working in Azemmour and El Jadida hospital (two sites) and in 41 health centers in El Jadida province. We carried out a bivariate analysis and used contingency tables and logistic regression models to identify factors associated with different KAP levels. Results: We found that 90.1%, 8.3% and 60.3% of HW had respectively high levels of knowledge, risk perception attitudes and preventive practices towards COVID-19. High level of knowledge was associated with gender (OR: 0.267; 95% CI: 0.113-0.634; p=0.002), and professional profile (p<0.001). Levels of attitudes were associated with gender (OR: 17.143; 95% CI: 5.450-53.932; p<0.001) whereas levels of preventive practices were associated with position of the HW in COVID-19 (frontline or not frontline) (OR: 0.404; 95% CI: 0.236-0.691; p=0.001) and the overworked status of the HW (OR: 0.421; 95% CI: 0.242-0.730; p=0.002). Conclusion: Professionals' knowledge and practice levels were higher than their COVID-19 risk perception attitudes. Therefore, efforts should be made to improve the attitudes of health professionals.

Mother's awareness and attitudes towards prenatal screening for Down syndrome in Muslim Moroccans.

BACKGROUND: Abortion is prohibited and penalized in Morocco. On the other hand, there is no strategy or consensus for prenatal screening for Down syndrome (DS) included into the Moroccan pregnancy monitoring national program. OBJECTIVES: This study aims to explore the awareness and attitudes of women who have a child with DS regarding prenatal screening for DS. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This is an observational study based on a knowledge, attitude, and practice survey. RESULTS: Fifty women who have a child with DS agreed to participate in this survey. Although nearly two-thirds of women had not heard of DS or knew what prenatal screening is prior to the birth of the affected child, the majority felt that screening for DS would be useful in the first (84%) or second (90%) trimester. In line with this, most responders would agree to undergo first trimester (84%) or second trimester (80%) screening in a future pregnancy. Most (94%) of the women felt that information on DS screening should be provided to all Moroccan women in early pregnancy and that a public health program for prenatal screening should be established (94%). Deficit in knowledge was detected in awareness that first trimester ultrasound may allow screening for DS. CONCLUSION: Women who have a child with DS have low awareness of existing screening tests for the condition but have a positive attitude towards them.