Symptomatology, Positivity, and Type of Care Received by Healthcare Workers Tested for COVID-19 Infection in a North-Central State in Nigeria: A Retrospective Study

Background: The health of healthcare workers (HCWs) is an indicator of the quality of health service provision during the COVID-19 pandemic. Objectives: This study aimed to describe the symptomatology and positivity of COVID-19 infection and the type of COVID-19 care received among HCWs in a North-Central State in Nigeria. Methods: This was a retrospective review of HCWs tested for COVID-19 as retrieved from the Surveillance Outbreak Response Management System between April 2020 and March 2021 in Kwara State, Nigeria. Results: Among the 1453 HCWs, 831 (57.2%) were above 35 years, and 874 (60.2%) were females. Among the 259 HCWs who tested positive for COVID-19, 122 (23.8%) lived in urban areas (χ2=13.94, P≤0.001). Also, 83 (30.7%) of symptomatic persons tested positive for COVID-19 (χ 2=37.766, P≤0.001). Overall, 33 (12.7%) of the 259 positive HCWs received hospital-based COVID-19 care, and 33 (16.1%) who had less than 2 symptoms received hospital-based COVID-19 care (χ2=9.962, P=0.002). HCWs who had cough had three times odds of testing positive for COVID-19 (OR=3.299, 95% CI=1.571–6.927, P=0.002). Also, HCWs who manifested loss of taste had three times odds of testing positive for COVID-19 (OR=3.392, 95% CI=1.010–11.393, P=0.048). Conclusion: COVID-19 testing should be encouraged among HCWs, especially those with cough symptoms and loss of taste.