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Assessment of the Level of Readiness in Response to the Lassa Hemorrhagic Fever Virus Outbreak in Cotonou, Benin

Received: 26 November 2022    Accepted: 13 December 2022    Published: 27 December 2022
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Abstract

Lassa Virus Hemorrhagic Fever (LVHF) can spread rapidly, causing large-scale epidemics and panic in the community, hence the need to be prepared. The study aims at assessing the level of preparedness of the health district of Cotonou 1 and 4 in response to the outbreak of LVHF in 2019. This is a descriptive and evaluative cross-sectional study led in the Health District of Cotonou 1 and 4. Variables were selected on the basis of documents of the national contingency plan for Ebola virus disease and other viral hemorrhagic fevers. The non-probability method and the reasoned choice technique were used for targets identification. The level of preparedness was assessed by calculating scores through Varkevisser scale. The preparedness level of the health district of Cotonou 1 and 4 in response to the outbreak of Hemorrhagic Fever with Virus Lassa in 2019, studied through resources, process and results was considered low with a performance of 58.43%. This health district has no contingency plan and private health facilities have no budget line for epidemic management. The preparedness for the response was characterized by poor coordination and low promptness in the transmission of case reports. The study showed that 14.49% of health workers and 40.0% community health workers had not a good knowledge of LHFV. Appropriate measures are required on these insufficiencies to improve the level of preparedness for the response to a possible LHVF epidemic both in Cotonou 1 and 4 and in the other health districts of Benin.

Published in Central African Journal of Public Health (Volume 8, Issue 6)
DOI 10.11648/j.cajph.20220806.15
Page(s) 239-245
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Response, Epidemic, Hemorrhagic Fever, Lassa, Benin

References
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  • APA Style

    Saizonou Zinsou Jacques, Kpozehouen Alphonse, Makoutode Patrick, Atihoun Charlene. (2022). Assessment of the Level of Readiness in Response to the Lassa Hemorrhagic Fever Virus Outbreak in Cotonou, Benin. Central African Journal of Public Health, 8(6), 239-245. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cajph.20220806.15

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    ACS Style

    Saizonou Zinsou Jacques; Kpozehouen Alphonse; Makoutode Patrick; Atihoun Charlene. Assessment of the Level of Readiness in Response to the Lassa Hemorrhagic Fever Virus Outbreak in Cotonou, Benin. Cent. Afr. J. Public Health 2022, 8(6), 239-245. doi: 10.11648/j.cajph.20220806.15

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    AMA Style

    Saizonou Zinsou Jacques, Kpozehouen Alphonse, Makoutode Patrick, Atihoun Charlene. Assessment of the Level of Readiness in Response to the Lassa Hemorrhagic Fever Virus Outbreak in Cotonou, Benin. Cent Afr J Public Health. 2022;8(6):239-245. doi: 10.11648/j.cajph.20220806.15

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  • @article{10.11648/j.cajph.20220806.15,
      author = {Saizonou Zinsou Jacques and Kpozehouen Alphonse and Makoutode Patrick and Atihoun Charlene},
      title = {Assessment of the Level of Readiness in Response to the Lassa Hemorrhagic Fever Virus Outbreak in Cotonou, Benin},
      journal = {Central African Journal of Public Health},
      volume = {8},
      number = {6},
      pages = {239-245},
      doi = {10.11648/j.cajph.20220806.15},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cajph.20220806.15},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.cajph.20220806.15},
      abstract = {Lassa Virus Hemorrhagic Fever (LVHF) can spread rapidly, causing large-scale epidemics and panic in the community, hence the need to be prepared. The study aims at assessing the level of preparedness of the health district of Cotonou 1 and 4 in response to the outbreak of LVHF in 2019. This is a descriptive and evaluative cross-sectional study led in the Health District of Cotonou 1 and 4. Variables were selected on the basis of documents of the national contingency plan for Ebola virus disease and other viral hemorrhagic fevers. The non-probability method and the reasoned choice technique were used for targets identification. The level of preparedness was assessed by calculating scores through Varkevisser scale. The preparedness level of the health district of Cotonou 1 and 4 in response to the outbreak of Hemorrhagic Fever with Virus Lassa in 2019, studied through resources, process and results was considered low with a performance of 58.43%. This health district has no contingency plan and private health facilities have no budget line for epidemic management. The preparedness for the response was characterized by poor coordination and low promptness in the transmission of case reports. The study showed that 14.49% of health workers and 40.0% community health workers had not a good knowledge of LHFV. Appropriate measures are required on these insufficiencies to improve the level of preparedness for the response to a possible LHVF epidemic both in Cotonou 1 and 4 and in the other health districts of Benin.},
     year = {2022}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Assessment of the Level of Readiness in Response to the Lassa Hemorrhagic Fever Virus Outbreak in Cotonou, Benin
    AU  - Saizonou Zinsou Jacques
    AU  - Kpozehouen Alphonse
    AU  - Makoutode Patrick
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    JF  - Central African Journal of Public Health
    JO  - Central African Journal of Public Health
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    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2575-5781
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cajph.20220806.15
    AB  - Lassa Virus Hemorrhagic Fever (LVHF) can spread rapidly, causing large-scale epidemics and panic in the community, hence the need to be prepared. The study aims at assessing the level of preparedness of the health district of Cotonou 1 and 4 in response to the outbreak of LVHF in 2019. This is a descriptive and evaluative cross-sectional study led in the Health District of Cotonou 1 and 4. Variables were selected on the basis of documents of the national contingency plan for Ebola virus disease and other viral hemorrhagic fevers. The non-probability method and the reasoned choice technique were used for targets identification. The level of preparedness was assessed by calculating scores through Varkevisser scale. The preparedness level of the health district of Cotonou 1 and 4 in response to the outbreak of Hemorrhagic Fever with Virus Lassa in 2019, studied through resources, process and results was considered low with a performance of 58.43%. This health district has no contingency plan and private health facilities have no budget line for epidemic management. The preparedness for the response was characterized by poor coordination and low promptness in the transmission of case reports. The study showed that 14.49% of health workers and 40.0% community health workers had not a good knowledge of LHFV. Appropriate measures are required on these insufficiencies to improve the level of preparedness for the response to a possible LHVF epidemic both in Cotonou 1 and 4 and in the other health districts of Benin.
    VL  - 8
    IS  - 6
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Department of Health Policies and Systems, Regional Institute of Public Health, University of Abomey-Calavi, Ouidah, Benin

  • Department of Epidemiology and Bio Statistics, Regional Institute of Public Health, University of Abomey-Calavi, Ouidah, Benin

  • Department of Health Policies and Systems, Regional Institute of Public Health, University of Abomey-Calavi, Ouidah, Benin

  • Department of Health Policies and Systems, Regional Institute of Public Health, University of Abomey-Calavi, Ouidah, Benin

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