Author(s)

Obed Ernest A. Nettey¹, Yeetey A. Enuameh¹, Charles Zandoh¹, Edward Apraku Anane¹, Mahama Abukari¹, Francis Agbokey¹, Awurabena Q. Dadzie¹, Mathilda Tivura¹, Dennis Adu-Gyasi¹, Lawrence Gyabaa Febir¹, Kenneth A. Ae-Ngibise¹, Timothy Letsa², Kwaku Poku Asante¹, Seth Owusu-Agyei¹

¹Kintampo Health Research Centre, Kintampo, Ghana.
²Regional Health Directorate, Ghana Health Service, Sunyani, Ghana.

This study describes community members’ knowledge of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), their attitudes and preventive practices. A mixed methods approach was used. A random sample of 1028 community members aged 15 - 65 years was interviewed in a quantitative survey. This was complemented with a qualitative study involving 24 opinion leaders who were carefully selected. The study was conducted in Kintampo North and South districts of Ghana from August 2014 to October 2014. 83% of respondents had heard of EVD, but 62.5% did not know the duration between the time of infection and onset of clinical symptoms. The most popular symptom mentioned spontaneously was bleeding through body orifices (48.6%). Majority of respondents mentioned handshake or skin contact as a mode of transmission (57.3%) and reduced contact with bats as a means to prevent the spread of EVD (58.1%). Knowledge of transmission of body fluids such as faeces, blood or urine was low (<10%), though this varied significantly by socio-demographic group. Majority (94%) of respondents acknowledged that EVD was a serious disease, however, only 58% saw themselves at risk. Current preventive behaviours included: improved hand hygiene (83%) and avoidance of handshakes and physical contact with people (81%). Community members in the Kintampo districts have high level of awareness of EVD, but important gaps in knowledge of EVD still exist, especially concerning body fluids as a mode of transmission. There is the need to intensify educational messages as part of Ghana’s preparedness towards a potential EVD outbreak.

Ebola, Virus, Kintampo, Ghana, Knowledge, Attitudes, Preventive Practices, KAP

Nettey, O. , Enuameh, Y. , Zandoh, C. , Anane, E. , Abukari, M. , Agbokey, F. , Dadzie, A. , Tivura, M. , Adu-Gyasi, D. , Febir, L. , Ae-Ngibise, K. , Letsa, T. , Asante, K. and Owusu-Agyei, S. (2016) Knowledge, Attitudes and Preventive Practices on Ebola Virus Disease in the Kintampo Districts of Ghana. Health, 8, 1465-1484. doi: 10.4236/health.2016.814146.