Preparedness toward COVID-19 pandemics and associated factors among health care workers in Dire Dawa Hospitals, Eastern Ethiopia: A facility-based cross-sectional study

INTRODUCTION: Health care workers are at the frontline of the response against the COVID-19 outbreak. Poor preparedness and infection prevention practices among health care workers compound the hazard and occurrence of COVID-19 hospital transmission. Thus, the study aimed to assess preparedness toward COVID-19 pandemics and associated factors among health care workers in Hospitals of Eastern Ethiopia. METHODS: Facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted from 20 June to July 10 2020. A simple random sampling technique was used to select 423 health care workers. Data were collected using a structured self-administered questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS Version 23. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression was conducted to identify factors associated with the outcome variable, and statistical significance was declared at a p-value less than 0.05. RESULTS: This study revealed that the proportion of health care workers’ preparedness toward the COVID-19 pandemic was 40.9% (95% CI: 36.2–45.9). Working in a public hospital (AOR = 2.7, 95% CI: 1.6–4.3), being unafraid of transmitting COVID-19 to patients (Adjusted odds ratio/AOR = 4.6, 95% CI: 2.2–10.0), feeling safe at the workplace (AOR = 3.3, 95% CI: 1.7–6.4)), satisfied with the infection control policy (AOR = 6.0, 95% CI: 2.3–15.0), and not feeling anxious about the likelihood of COVID-19 spread (AOR = 2.1, 95% CI: 1.3–3.4) were significantly associated with COVID-19 preparedness. CONCLUSION: The majority of the health care workers were not prepared for COVID-19 pandemics. Feeling safe at the workplace scared of transmitting COVID-19 to patients, satisfied with the infection control policy, and feeling anxious concerning the likelihood of COVID-19 were factors associated with health care workers’ preparedness to COVID-19. The current awareness creation training, including motivational and psychological preparation for all health care workers, is mandatory, regardless of their profession or working place.