Abstract

Logistics Management of COVID-19 Personal Protective Equipment and its Challenges at Public Hospitals of Southwest Ethiopia: An Integrated Quantitative and Qualitative Study

Background: Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is currently a very important topic, probably the most overlooked and emotive subject, for front-line healthcare staff working with Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) patients. With these regards, there are two main problems: shortages, and inappropriate utilization. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess the logistics management of COVID-19 PPEs and its challenges at public hospitals of Benchisheko, Kafa, and Sheka zones, southwest Ethiopia. Method: Hospital-based descriptive cross-sectional quantitative and qualitative study was conducted using a checklist, structured and semi-structured questionnaire, and interview guide. Quantitative data were analyzed by Microsoft Excel spreadsheets. Qualitative data were analyzed manually, using thematic analysis techniques.Results: All hospitals had Bin cards, reporting and resupply forms, and model 19 (receiving models), and model 21 (issue model). But they were not utilizing the majority of these forms for logistics management of PPEs. All the assessed hospitals had N-95 respirator masks, surgical masks, gowns, surgical gloves, and aprons in their inventory. But the quantities were not sufficient for available human power, especially since both N-95 respirator and surgical masks were below emergency order points. All hospitals were not used logistics record-keeping tools (bin cards) for PPEs, except for surgical gloves and disposable gloves. Among the expected 44 bin cards only seven (16%) items had Bin cards and only 6 (13.75%) bin cards were updated. None of them had submitted a report to the supplier and put an order for personal protective equipment. Shortage at supplier source, budget constraint, and complexity of the procurement process, overconsumption, and transportation restrictions was challenged contributed to a shortage of these items. Conclusion: Even though personal protective equipment is very important during this crisis, all assessed hospitals had an insufficient quantity of personal protective equipment and poorly managing the inventory of available equipment.

• Full-Text
• PDF