TITLE:
Knowledge, Attitudes and Preventive Practices on Ebola Virus Disease in the Kintampo Districts of Ghana
AUTHORS:
Obed Ernest A. Nettey, Yeetey A. Enuameh, Charles Zandoh, Edward Apraku Anane, Mahama Abukari, Francis Agbokey, Awurabena Q. Dadzie, Mathilda Tivura, Dennis Adu-Gyasi, Lawrence Gyabaa Febir, Kenneth A. Ae-Ngibise, Timothy Letsa, Kwaku Poku Asante, Seth Owusu-Agyei
KEYWORDS:
Ebola, Virus, Kintampo, Ghana, Knowledge, Attitudes, Preventive Practices, KAP
JOURNAL NAME:
Health,
Vol.8 No.14,
November
14,
2016
ABSTRACT: This study describes community members’ knowledge of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), their attitudes and preventive practices. A mixed methods approach was used. A random sample of 1028 community members aged 15 - 65 years was interviewed in a quantitative survey. This was complemented with a qualitative study involving 24 opinion leaders who were carefully selected. The study was conducted in Kintampo North and South districts of Ghana from August 2014 to October 2014. 83% of respondents had heard of EVD, but 62.5% did not know the duration between the time of infection and onset of clinical symptoms. The most popular symptom mentioned spontaneously was bleeding through body orifices (48.6%). Majority of respondents mentioned handshake or skin contact as a mode of transmission (57.3%) and reduced contact with bats as a means to prevent the spread of EVD (58.1%). Knowledge of transmission of body fluids such as faeces, blood or urine was low (