The Adequacy of Hospital Response to COVID-19 Pandemic amongst Surgical Institutions in South-Eastern Nigeria

BACKGROUND: The novel corona virus (COVID-19) was first diagnosed in Wuhan, China in December 2019. The healthcare specifically, departments of surgery in Southeastern Nigeria, are making modifications to cope and plan for the pandemic. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate how well surgical institutions in Southeastern Nigeria are prepared for the anticipated influx of Covid-19 patients, existing patients and to determine the adequacy of hospital provision of essential supplies and awareness creation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional online study of two hundred and one (201) surgery resident doctors in surgical institutions in South-eastern Nigeria was conducted. Questionnaires were designed and distributed using online platforms. The data obtained was analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). Significance was set at P < 0.05. Consent was obtained from all respondents. RESULTS: A total of 201 surgery resident doctors filled and submitted their questionnaires, response rate of 71.5%, out of which 50.1% agreed that hospital response to Covid-19 pandemic was inadequate, 78.3% agreed that the Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) provided by hospitals were inadequate while about 53.8% agreed that the hospital workforce was poor and inadequate and incapable of adapting to the unstable workforce during the pandemic. About 46.2% agreed that the hospitals were conducting an adequate creation of awareness with regards to the pandemic while 25% agreed that the hospital compliance with the CDC (Center for disease control) preventive protocols/guidelines in surgical institutions were adequate. There was a statistically significant association (P = 0.019 (< 0.05); X2= 5.517) between hospital type and provision of adequate Personal protective equipment for surgical procedures. Only 19% of the government hospital employees felt that adequate amount of PPEs were provided compared to 41% of private hospital employees. CONCLUSION: The results from this study show that the hospital response to Covid-19 pandemic and awareness creation amongst surgical institutions in Southeastern Nigeria are inadequate. RECOMMENDATIONS: The government should equip the health sector by providing the necessary amenities to adequately combat the challenges of surgical practice in the Covid-19 pandemic.