Knowledge, Attitude and Practice Among Health Care Workers Concerning COVID-19 at Primary Health Center –

Background: The global outbreak of COVID-19, originating in late 2019 and caused by SARS-CoV-2, represents a highly transmissible respiratory infection. Health care workers (HCWs) have occupied a frontline position, simultaneously providing clinical care and implementing preventive protocols. Their knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) are indispensable to the overall effectiveness of healthcare responses and safeguarding within clinical settings.
Aim: To investigate the KAP of HCWs toward COVID-19 at the Primary Health Center under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of National Guard-Health Affairs in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Subjects and Methods: A descriptive cross- sectional study, utilizing a technique of random sampling was conducted in Primary health centers in the western regions and MNG- HA Jeddah Saudi Arabia during the period from the beginning of 2022 till the end of 2023 among 239 randomly chosen participants.
Results: The results revealed that HCWs generally have a high level of knowledge about COVID-19, with females, Saudis, and those working in the private sector as well as nurses, exhibiting significantly higher knowledge scores. While physicians scored higher in practice, indicating better adherence to preventive measures. Despite these differences, attitudes towards COVID-19 were generally positive across all groups. The study also found significant positive correlations between KAP scores, suggesting that increased knowledge leads to better attitudes and practices among HCWs.
Conclusion: The study concluded that Saudi healthcare workers generally had strong knowledge, positive attitudes, and effective practices regarding COVID-19. However, improvements are needed in vaccine knowledge, adherence to mask-wearing, and availability of protective equipment. These findings emphasize the critical role of structured training and ongoing support for HCWs.