Knowledge and Attitude of Nurses Towards Implementation of Covid 19 Safety Precaution Protocols in Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria

This descriptive study instigated the knowledge and attitude of nurses towards implementation of COVID-19 safety precaution protocol in Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Owerri. Coronavirus disease (COVID 19) is pathogenic viral infection, highly transmittable through direct and indirect routes which has caused global pandemic and has led to drastic loss of human life worldwide. The population of the study consists of seven hundred and eighty (780) nurses with a sample size of 290 determined by Taro Yamane. A self-structured validated questionnaire was used as the major instrument for data collection. Data analysis was achieved through descriptive and nonparametric statistics of chi-square. Research findings revealed that 268 (92.4%), of the respondents have a high knowledge of covid-19 safety precaution protocols, 93 (32. 1%) of the respondents adhered to implementation of Covid-19 safety precaution protocols. Also 159 (59.8%) of the respondent have a negative attitude towards implementation of COVID-19 safety precaution protocol with a mean score of 2.26. There is no significant relationship between gender, years of professional experience and attitudes towards implementation of COVID19 safety precaution protocols. Also, gender, years of professional experience, professional qualification do not significantly influence knowledge of implementation of COVID19 safety precaution protocols. Furthermore, there is significant relationship between professional qualification and attitude towards implementation of COVID 19 safety precaution protocols among nurses in FMC, Owerri. The media should constantly advertise the required COVID 19 safety precaution protocols so as to ensure proper dissemination of information among the populace. Also, hospital administrations should ensure that there is adequate provision of necessary safety equipment to curtail spread of covid-19.