Factors associated with knowledge of health care workers toward COVID-19 in health facilities West Guji zone, Southern Ethiopia, 2020

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus pandemic puts healthcare workers (HCWs) at high risk and challenges the abilities of healthcare systems to respond to the crisis. This study aimed to assess the level of knowledge of HCWs and associated factors in West Guji zone public health facilities in southern Ethiopia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A health facility-based quantitative cross-sectional study was undertaken from June 10 to July 10, 2020. Two hundred and eighty-three HCWs were involved in the study using a systematic sampling method. The instrument was pretested on 5% of the sample in Yabello Hospital. Data were analyzed using bivariate and multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: The HCW who had good knowledge was 84.7%. HCWs who had degree holders, masters and above holders, work experience of 2-4 years, and > 4 years of experiences, had training on Coronavirus, and medical diseases were significantly associated with good knowledge of Coronavirus. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicated that HCWs' knowledge about the Coronavirus was good. Improving the educational status of HCWs and giving updated training on the Coronavirus will improve HCW's knowledge of the Coronavirus.