ZIKA VIRUS, AN EMERGING THREAT: EVALUATION OF AWARENESS AMONG MEDICAL STUDENTS AND HEALTH CARE WORKERS IN A PUBLIC-SECTOR UNIVERSITY

Abstract

Objective:  To find out awareness of Zika virus among medical students and health care workers.

Study design: Cross sectional survey.

Place and Duration of Study: A cross sectional survey was conducted in a Public Sector Medical College of Karachi to evaluate and compare knowledge between medical students, house officers and residents, during the period of May-Dec 2016.

Materials and Methods: Questionnaire was designed to assess participant’s knowledge, attitude and approach towards this disease. The sample size was calculated by open epi online software giving a value of 587. The sampling technique used in this survey is nonrandom purposive type. The data was entered and analyzed on SPSS-version 16.0 using Chi-Square test and unpaired T-test. Interpretation was done using x and p values. Mean knowledge score for every group was then calculated to ascertain the level of existing knowledge.

Results: Total of 587 participants consented to fill the questionnaire in the study, out of which 523 questionnaires were completely responded to. The response rate is 89%. Among them 71% were females and 29% were male.  62.3% of the participants were aware about the threat of zika virus, with the most common source of information (51.5%) being internet.

Conclusion: The healthcare professionals have the awareness about the zika virus. On evaluation, a remarkably sound level of knowledge was ascertained among Residents, House Officers and medical students. However further awareness about disease control and diagnosis is of vital importance.

Keywords: Zika virus, Awareness medical students, Health care workers.