TITLE:
Assessment of Zika Virus Knowledge among Healthcare Professionals in Bobo-Dioulasso: Implications for Public Health Strategies
AUTHORS:
Abdrahamane Camara, Dieudonné Tialla, Brou N’Guessan Akuèlou Kouamé, Merci Muhigwa, Aboubacar Kiendrébeogo, Moussa Namountougou, Salimata Pousga, Abdoul Salam Ouédraogo, Ibrahim Sangaré
KEYWORDS:
Zika, Knowledge of Healthcare Professionals, Public Health, Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Epidemiology,
Vol.16 No.1,
December
31,
2025
ABSTRACT: Zika virus infection became a global concern after the 2015 outbreak in Latin America. Primarily transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, Zika virus can also spread sexually and vertically, leading to various complications. Although its circulation in Burkina Faso has not been clearly established, the presence of the vector and serological evidence raises a real risk. This study aims to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of health workers in Bobo-Dioulasso to improuve care and prevention in a context of limited ressources and re-emerging threats. A cross-sectional study was conducted in public and private hospitals in Bobo-Dioulasso and its surrounding areas from August 2024 to February 2025. A pre-tested structured questionnaire, including a series of questions on these diseases, was used to assess healthcare workers’ knowledge specifically of Zika virus its causative agent, mode of transmission, and symptoms and their management practices with regard to its diagnosis, preventive measures, and treatment. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with study participants, including doctors, nurses, midwives, laboratory technicians, and medical assistants. The study conducted among 210 healthcare professionals in Bobo-Dioulasso reveals that 67.14% are aware of the Zika virus, primarily through the media 39.01% or workplace training 29.79%. However, some gaps persist: 71.63% wrongly believe that urban areas are more affected than tropical regions, and 54.61% are unaware of its main mode of transmission (mosquitoes). Although fever 54.61% and headaches 50.35% are well identified, nearly half confuse the symptoms with other diseases. In diagnosis, 58.87% knew appropriate testing methods, but 41.87% demonstrated insufficient knowledge. Only 46.8% know effective preventive measures, and 50.35% applied correct symptomatic treatment. The analysis revealed that 56.74% of healthcare professionals possessed a high level of knowledge, with significant variations on experience and profession. Among respondents with good knowledge, 69.49% had more than 15 years of experience, and those with better were more prevalent among doctors, laboratory technicians and nurses. The sector, i.e., public or private, did not influence the results, highlighting instead the importance of continuing training to fill in the gaps in order to reinforce their knowledge. This first assessment on Zika in Bobo-Dioulasso reveals that 67% of healthcare workers are aware of the virus, with 57% demonstrating adequate clinical proficiency. Although higher than in some countries, these results remain lower than in endemic areas, underlining the need for targeted training. The study thus provides a basis for strengthening epidemic preparedness in Burkina Faso and sub-Saharan Africa.