Self-reported use of and access to personal protective equipment among healthcare workers during the COVID-19 outbreak in Nigeria

The SARS-CoV-2 virus is highly infectious resulting in increased infection and death among the front-line Healthcare Workers (HCW) because of limited access to personal protective equipment (PPE). This study assesses the availability and self-reported use of PPE amongst HCW during the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria. A mixed-method study was conducted through a cross-sectional survey and in-depth interviews amongst HCW. Quantitative data analysis was done using SPSS version 26 and thematic analysis was done for the in-depth interview. A total of 258 HCW completed the survey while 15 HCW took part in the in-depth interview. The mean age was 40 (±8.6) years, 67.4% were female and 83.3% were married. 49% were Doctors, 21.1% were Nurses, 28.7% were other allied HCW and 62.2% had at least 10 years of practice experience. Only 22.1% of HCWs had regular access to PPE and only 20.6% had access to N-95 facemask compare to other PPEs. Male HCWs and those working at secondary or tertiary facilities had access to N-95 facemask (p-value 0.025 and 0.010 respectively). The facilitator of PPE use is leadership quality of hospital head and donation of PPE to the facilities while the barriers to PPE use include a limited supply of PPE, as well as facility's infrastructural and operational challenges. The study reported limited access to essential PPE with varying perspectives on its use. Therefore, access, knowledge, and appropriate use of PPE need urgent attention with improved implementation of infection control policy at the facility level.