Knowledge, attitude & practice of disaster preparedness and associated factors among Addis Ababa fire & disaster risk management commission & Red cross society emergency medical service employees, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2023
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Date
2023-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Background: Disasters have become a major public health concern, as they can occur at any
time, cause significant property damage, disrupt infrastructure, and hinder social and economic
progress. Natural and man-made disasters claim lives and cause displacement every year, and
the frequency of disasters has increased over the past five decades. To respond to such events,
the Red Cross Society and Fire & Disaster Risk Management Commission act as entry points for
victims to receive proper care before arriving at hospitals in Addis Ababa.
Objective: This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of disaster
preparedness & associated factors among Emergency medical service employees working in
Addis Ababa fire and disaster risk management commission and red cross society.
Methodology: An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted among employees of
Addis Ababa Fire and Disaster Risk Management Commission and Red Cross society affiliated
with Emergency Medical Services (EMS). The data were collected through self-administered
structured questionnaires between March 15 to April 15, 2023, and were checked for
completeness before being entered into EPI-data version 4.6. The data were later exported to
SPSS version 27.0.1 for analysis. Bivariate and multivariable analyses were employed in the
study for data analysis.
Results: Out of 120, total of 115 health professionals participated in the study. About 59.1 % of
participants were female and majority of respondents age group is 25-30(88.7%) years and mean
& median age of participants is 28.57(SD=3.618) & 28 respectively. About half of 60(52.2%) at
95%CI (41.7%-62.7%) EMS health care workers had adequate knowledge about disaster
preparedness. Overall attitude towards the disaster preparedness was largely positive as
87(75.7%), 95% CI (66.9%-84.4%) of respondents had favourable attitude. Good practice
76(66.1%), 95% CI (57.3%-75.7%) of disaster preparedness was observed. Those who took
disaster management training (AOR=4.644, 95%CI=1.574-13.705, p=0.005) and had disaster
management plan (AOR=7.970, 95%CI=2.405-26.418, p<0.001) were strongly associated with
good knowledge of the participants. Those who took Disaster management training was strongly
associated with favorable attitude of the participants at (AOR=4.191, 95%CI=1.414-12.422,
P=0.010). Those who took disaster management training( AOR=14.638, 95%CI=3.329-64.357,
P <0.001,those who had performed drills previously(AOR= 4.446, 95%CI=1.054-
18.749,P=0.042),those who had been worker of disaster management team(AOR
=7.472,95%CI=1.893-29.493,P=0.004) and those who updated disaster management plan (AOR
=10.191,95%CI=2.302-45.113,P=0.002) were significantly associated with participant’s good
practice towards disaster preparedness.
Conclusion and recommendation: This study showed that more than half of EMS employees
had good knowledge, practice and largely positive attitude on disaster preparedness. Still much
effort is expected from AAFDRMC & RCS to enhance adequate knowledge, practice &
favorable attitude through more ongoing disaster trainings & frequent disaster simulations.
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Keywords
Knowledge, attitude, practice, disaster preparedness, fire and disaster risk management, red cross