Risk of COVID-19 Infection and Associated Factors Among Healthcare Workers: A Cross-Sectional Study at Eka Kotebe Treatment Center in Ethiopia

BACKGROUND: Healthcare worker-associated COVID-19 infection is a worldwide problem. The magnitude of exposure risk to COVID-19 infections in Ethiopia is rapidly increasing following its spread in the country. However, studies about the risk of COVID-19 infection among healthcare workers and factors associated with risk of COVID-19 infection are lacking in Ethiopia. OBJECTIVE: The study investigated level of risk of COVID-19 infection and associated factors among healthcare workers at Eka Kotebe COVID-19 treatment center. METHODS: A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted from September to October 2020 to determine risk of COVID-19 infection and associated factors at Eka Kotebe COVID-19 treatment center. In total, 318 healthcare workers participated in the study. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 25. A binary logistic regression model was used to evaluate the risk of COVID-19 infection among healthcare workers. RESULTS: A total of 243 (76%) healthcare workers had a high exposure risk of COVID-19 infection. Department of healthcare workers, ICU department workers [AOR: 6.545, 95% CI; (1.79–23.97)], long working hours [AOR: 9.224, 95% CI; (2.00–42.61)], inadequate supply of PPE [AOR: 0.318, 95% CI; (0.14–0.75)], lack of access to alcohol-based hand rub [AOR: 0.093, 95% CI; (0.01–0.98)], providing care within one meter of COVID-19 patients [AOR: 20.633, 95% CI; (3.88–109.76)], and direct contact with an environment in which a COVID-19 patient received care [AOR: 9.600, 95% CI; (1.05–84.50)] were found to be risk factors for COVID-19 infection. CONCLUSION: Healthcare workers face a high risk of COVID-19 infection while providing care for COVID-19 patients. Proper use and adequate supply of PPE and the implementation of basic infection prevention and control with frequent protocol revision and strict supervision are crucial to limit exposure risk to COVID-19 among healthcare workers.