Unconventional Products for COVID-19 Prevention: Practices, Experiences and Perceptions of Frontline Workers in Borno State, Nigeria

Authors

  • Ahmed DB Department of Community Health, Universiti Putra Malaysia
  • Mohammed AM World Health Organisation, Dalori Street, Maiduguri, Nigeria
  • Jamilu N 3. National Malaria Elimination Programme, Federal Ministry of Health, Abuja, Nigeria
  • Salamatu SA 4. Department of Hospital Services, Kaduna State Ministry of Health, ABUTH Annex, Zaria, Nigeria
  • Olubiyi OA 5. Vaccine and Immunity Theme, MRC Unit The Gambia at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Banjul, The Gambia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.60787/tnhj.v23i4.755

Keywords:

COVID-19, perception, prevention, unconventional products, frontline workers

Abstract

Background: Numerous unconventional products have been suggested for protection against COVID-19 infection, and health workers tend to be regarded as role models in terms of health behaviour. The study aimed at exploring the misuse of unconventional products for self-protection against COVID-19 by frontline health workers.

Method: This study utilised a mixed method design comprising a cross-sectional survey and in-depth interviews. Standardised questionnaires and interview guides developed based on the health belief model were used to collect information from the respondents. Statistical analysis used: The quantitative data obtained from the survey were analysed statistically to determine the predictors of using those products while thematic analysis was conducted for the qualitative data from the interviews.

Result: A total of 225 frontline workers comprising medical doctors, nurses, community health workers, environmental health workers, surveillance notification officers, laboratory scientists/technicians, cleaners/porters, drivers, and others, answered the survey. Half of the respondents (50.7%) reported they had taken some unconventional medications/products, majorly garlic, Chloroquine, and Vitamin C to protect themselves from COVID-19. Belief that those unconventional products were beneficial (OR = 2.37; 95% CI: 1.29-4.37) and having had COVID-like symptoms (OR = 3.63, 95% CI: 1.87-7.03), were predictors of unconventional medications/products use.

Conclusion: The high prevalence of abuse of unconventional products for COVID-19 prevention among frontline workers could adversely affect efforts by health authorities in discouraging the public from abusing them

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Wu F, Zhao S, Yu B, Chen YM, Wang W, Song ZG, Hu Y, Tao ZW, Tian JH, Pei YY, Yuan ML. A new coronavirus associated with human respiratory disease in China. Nature. 2020;580: E7.

Fehr AR, Perlman S. Coronaviruses: An overview of their replication and pathogenesis. In: Coronaviruses: Methods and Protocols. 2015; 2015:1–23

Touati R, Haddad-Boubaker S, Ferchichi I, Messaoudi I, Ouesleti AE, Triki H, Lachiri Z, Kharrat M. Comparative genomic signature representations of the emerging COVID-19 coronavirus and other coronaviruses: High identity and possible recombination between bat and pangolin coronaviruses. Genomics. 2020; 6:4189-4202.

Quesada JA, López-Pineda A, Gil-Guillén VF, Arriero-Marín JM, Gutiérrez F, Carratala-Munuera C. Incubation period of COVID-19: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Revista Clínica Española (English Edition). 2021; 22:109-17.

World Health Organization. Clinical management of COVID-19. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jsames.2011.03.003%0Ahttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.gr.2017.08.001%0Ahttp://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.precamres.2014.12.018%0Ahttp://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.precamres.2011.08.005%0Ahttp://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00206814.2014.902757%0Ahttp://dx (2020). Accessed on 15 Oct 2021.

Maguire BJ, Guérin PJ. A living systematic review protocol for COVID-19 clinical trial registrations. Wellcome Open Res 2020;5.

RECOVERY Collaborative Group. Tocilizumab in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 (RECOVERY): a randomised, controlled, open-label, platform trial. Lancet. 2021; 397:1637-1645.

Hammond J, Leister-Tebbe H, Gardner A, Abreu P, Bao W, Wisemandle W, Baniecki M, Hendrick VM, Damle B, Simón-Campos A, Pypstra R. Oral nirmatrelvir for high-risk, nonhospitalized adults with Covid-19. N Engl J Med. 2022; 38:1397-1408.

ACTT-1 Study Group. Remdesivir for the treatment of Covid-19: final report. N Engl J Med. 2020; 383:1813-26.

RECOVERY Collaborative Group. Dexamethasone in hospitalized patients with Covid-19. N Engl J Med. 2021; 384:693-704.

Aborode, AT, Rafiu R, Jennifer N. The effectiveness of the use of traditional medicine on COVID-19 in South-west region of Nigeria. Chem Sci J. 2020; 11:

Nigeria News, Virus Latest: Chloroquine Poisoning, Trump Tweet - Bloomberg. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-03-21/nigeria-reports-chloroquine-poisonings-after-trump-praised-drug (2020). Accessed on 04 Jul 2020.

Molento MB. COVID-19 and the rush for self-medication and self-dosing with ivermectin: A word of caution. One Health. 2020; 10:100148.

Wegbom AI, Edet CK, Raimi O, Fagbamigbe AF, Kiri VA. Self-Medication practices and associated factors in the prevention and/or treatment of COVID-19 virus: A population-based survey in Nigeria. Front Pub Heal. 2021; doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.606801.

Amuzie CI, Kalu KU, Izuka M, Nwamoh UN, Emma-Ukaegbu U, Odini F, Kingsley M, Chigozie O, Okedo-Alex IN. Prevalence, pattern and predictors of self-medication for COVID-19 among residents in Umuahia, Abia State, Southeast Nigeria: policy and public health implications. J Pharm Pol Pract. 2022; 5:1-9.

Hernandez AV., Roman YM, Pasupuleti V, Barboza JJ, White CM. Hydroxychloroquine or Chloroquine for Treatment or Prophylaxis of COVID-19: A Living Systematic Review. Ann Intern Med. 2020; doi/abs/10.7326/M20-2496

Singh B, Ryan H, Kredo T, Chaplin M, Fletcher T. Chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine for prevention and treatment of COVID-19. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2021; doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD013587.pub2.

Marin S, Martin Val A, Bosch Peligero M, Rodríguez-Bernuz C, Pérez-Ricart A, Vilaró Jaques L, Paredes R, Roca J, Quiñones C. Safety of short-term treatments with oral chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine in patients with and without COVID-19: a systematic review. Pharmaceuticals. 2022; 15:634.

World Health Organization. Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak: rights, roles and responsibilities of health workers, including key considerations for occupational safety and health: interim guidance, 19 March 2020. World Health Organization; 2020.

Balami AD, Meleh HU. Misinformation on saltwater use among Nigerians during 2014 Ebola outbreak and the role of social media. Asian Pac J of Trop Med. 2019; 12:175-180.

Redding CA, Rossi JS, Rossi SR, Velicer WF, Prochaska JO. Health behavior models. The Int Electron J Heal Educ. 2000; 3:180-93.

Tsai CW, Chen HW, Sheen LY, Lii CK. Garlic: Health benefits and actions. BioMedicine. 2012; 2:17-29.

Shahrajabian MH, Wenli S, Cheng Q. Pharmacological uses and health benefits of ginger (Zingiber officinale) in traditional Asian and ancient Chinese medicine, and modern practice. Notulae Scientia Biologicae. 2019; 11:309-319.

Mahros MM, Abd-Elghany SM, Sayed-Ahmed MZ, Alqahtani SS, Sallam KI. Improving the microbiological quality, health benefits, and storage time of cold-stored ground mutton supplemented with black seed. LWT 2021; doi.org/10.1016/j.lwt.2020.110673

Hussein SI, Kaluf AF, Ahmed Y, Ahmed B, Iyad A. Determination of inhibition activity of α-Amylase enzyme, antioxidant activity, antibacterial activity and phenolic compounds by using some medical plants. The Iraqi J Agric Sci. 2020; 51:411-21.

Izcovich A, Peiris S, Ragusa M, Tortosa F, Rada G, Aldighieri S, Reveiz L. Bias as a source of inconsistency in ivermectin trials for COVID-19: A systematic review. Ivermectin's suggested benefits are mainly based on potentially biased results. J Clin Epidemiol. 2022; 144:43-55.

Downloads

Published

2024-01-15

How to Cite

BALAMI, A. D., Mohammed Abba Mustapha, Jamilu Nikau, Salamatu Silvia Akor, & Olubiyi Olubunmi Abiola. (2024). Unconventional Products for COVID-19 Prevention: Practices, Experiences and Perceptions of Frontline Workers in Borno State, Nigeria. The Nigerian Health Journal, 23(4), 968–976. https://doi.org/10.60787/tnhj.v23i4.755

Issue

Section

Original Articles
Abtract Views | PDF Download | EPUB Download: 163 / 120 / 73

Similar Articles

<< < 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 > >> 

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.