ABSTRACT
Background: The deterioration of Venezuela's health system in recent years undoubtedly contributes to an increased impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Understanding healthcare workers' (HCWs) knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAPs) toward COVID-19 in the early stages of the pandemic could inform their medical training and improve their preparedness. Methods: A online national cross-sectional survey was conducted between May 26th and May 30th, 2020, to assess KAPs among HCWs in Venezuela. Results: A total of 1,441 HCWs from all 24 regions of the country responded to the survey. The mean age of the HCWs was 44 (SD [standard deviation] 14) years; most were women (66.4%). Most HCWs were specialized doctors (48%), followed by nurses (13%) and resident doctors (12.3%). The majority of HCWs had good knowledge (76.3%), obtained information mainly from scientific literature (85.4%); had negative attitudes (53.6%), felt uncomfortable with their work during the current pandemic (59.8%); and reported appropriate practices (76.9%). However, participation in COVID-19 related training was absent in more than half of the HCWs. Positive attitudes were significantly more frequent in frontline workers than in non-frontline workers (p = 0.001). Bioanalysts, students, and doctors were more likely to have good knowledge; participating in training was a predictor for positive attitudes and older age was an appropriate practice predictor. Conclusions: HCWs, knowledge in Venezuela could be improved by strengthening education and training programs. Strategies should focus on reducing fear and improving attitudes toward the care of COVID-19 patients, as well as the promotion of preventive practices.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Adolescent , Aged , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice , Health Personnel , Humans , Pandemics , SARS-CoV-2 , Surveys and Questionnaires , VenezuelaABSTRACT
La Toxoplasmosis y la Enfermedad de Chagas (ECh) son infecciones parasitarias frecuentes en Latinoamérica, capaces de ser transmitidas verticalmente durante el embarazo. Este trabajo tiene como objetivo determinar la seroprevalencia ante Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi) y Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii), en las embarazadas de la consulta prenatal del Ambulatorio Docente del Hospital Universitario de Caracas. Estudio analítico, prospectivo de corte transversal, realizado en 300 pacientes, en el lapso comprendido entre enero 2018 marzo 2019. El 31,66 % de la población estudiada presentó seropositividad para anticuerpos IgG específicos para T. gondii, avidez de IgG mayor al 50 % e IgM negativa en todas, resultados compatibles con la fase crónica de la infección. Al correlacionar con los factores de riesgo habituales para la transmisión de T. gondii destacaron el contacto con heces de gato (46,3 %) y el consumo de agua directamente del grifo (32,6 %). En el caso de la ECh se demostró la presencia de factores de riesgo en la población estudiada, como contacto con triatominos (51,45 %) y viviendas cercanas a vegetación (49 %), sin embargo, solo una embarazada (0,33 %) demostró seropositividad para T. cruzi sin presentar relación con los factores de riesgo estudiados. Se evidenció una seroprevalencia muy frecuente para T. gondii y menor para T. cruzi, con factores de riesgo para la trasmisión vectorial cutánea y oral muy altos, constituyéndo una amenaza tanto para la embarazada como para al feto. Se recomienda educar a la población para reducir su exposición a factores de riesgo.
Toxoplasmosis and Chagas Disease (ChD) are frequent parasitic infections in Latin America, capables of vertical transmission during pregnancy. The purpose of this article is to determine the seroprevalence against Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi) and Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii), in pregnant women attending the prenatal clinic of the "Hospital Universitario de Caracas". Analytical, prospective study of a transversal cohort, carried out in 300 patients, during the period January 2018 - March 2019. The 31.66 % of the analyzed population showed seropositivity for IgG specific antibodies for T. gondii, all displaying an avidity IgG greater than 50 % and negative IgM, corresponding to a chronic stage of the infection. When correlating with the usual risk factors for the transmission of T. gondii, it was highlighted the presence of contact with cat feces (46.3 %) and the consumption of water directly from the tap (32.6 %). While with Chagas Disease (ChD), the presence of risk factors for acquiring the infection were highly demonstrated in the population, such as contact with triatomines (51.45 %) and living close to vegetation (49 %), however, only one pregnant woman (0.33 %) presented seropositivity for T. cruzi, without being related to the known risk factors. We conclude that T. gondii presents a high seroprevalence and T. cruzi an infrequent seroprevalence in the covered population, with high risk factors for cutaneous and oral vector transmission, representing a threat for the mother and the fetus. We recommend educating the population to reduce their exposure to risk factors.
