A Study to Assess the knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Hand Hygiene for Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) among Non-academic Staffs in AFE Babalola University Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Nigeria

Ebola Viral Disease (EVD), a highly contagious haemorrhagic disease has today become a major public health concern in the developing countries worldwide. A cross sectional descriptive study to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of hand hygiene for Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) among Non-academic staffs in Afe Babalola University Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Nigeria. This study involving 80 participants were selected by simple random sampling. Data was collected by use of questionnaires that were both self-administered and interviewer-administered depending on the respondent's literacy level. The study revealed that the respondents 12(15%) had inadequate knowledge, 21(26.2%) had moderately adequate knowledge and 47(58.7%) had adequate knowledge about EVD. Regarding attitude the respondents 11(13.7%) had unfavourable attitude, 18(22.5%) had moderately favourable attitude and 51(63.7%) had favourable attitude about EVD. On the practice of hand washing, 52(65%) used soap and water to wash their hands; out of which only 39(48.7%) washed their hands under running water. 65(81.2%) of respondents always washed their hands after using the toilet. 40(50%) of respondents always washed their hands before preparing meals while 26(32.5%) only did this sometimes. 68(85%) always washed their hands before and after eating meals like rice and beans. 48(60%) of respondents always washed their hands before feeding a baby. 28(35%) of the respondents said they always washed their hands after sneezing, 39(48.7%) sometimes washed their hands after sneezing while 13(16.2%) never washed. 53(66.2%) of respondents in our study always dried their hands after washing. 55(68.7%) of our respondents had borehole as their source of water while got their water from rain and 15(18.7%) have tankers supply water to their homes. In conclusion, the Non-Academic staffs in Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD) have good knowledge and attitude about EVD. Their practice of hand washing is suboptimal because though they washed their hands with soap and water, they did this in basins of water instead of under running water. Health education would also improve the knowledge, attitude and practice of hand washing in this community and thereby, improve their quality of life.