Abstract

Utilization Patterns and Counseling Practices of Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizers during COVID-19 Pandemic in Bench Sheko Zone, Southwest Ethiopia

Background: Coronaviruses infections are emerging respiratory viruses and are known to cause illnesses ranging from the common cold to severe acute respiratory syndrome. The most important ways to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases are frequent handwashing with soap, water and also applying alcohol-based hand sanitizers. Objective: To assess the utilization pattern and counseling practices of alcohol-based hand sanitizers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Bench-Sheko zone, Southwest Ethiopia from April 28 to June 05, 2020. Method: Community-based cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the utilization pattern and counseling practices of alcohol-based hand sanitizers during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Bench-Sheko zone, Southwest Ethiopia from April 28 to June 05, 2020. Data related to the utilization of alcohol-based hand sanitizer were collected from the selected household using the multistage sampling technique, whereas data related to counseling practices were collected from pharmacy personnel who have been working in the drug retail outlets found in the study setting. Data were entered into Epi data version 4.0.2 and then exported to statistical software package version 24.0 for data analysis. To identify the significant predictors of alcohol-based hand sanitizer utilization practice, binary and multivariable logistic regressions were carried out. Crude odds ratio and adjusted odds ratio with 95% confidence interval were calculated to determine the predictors. Result: From a total of 806 sampled populations, 784 (97.02%) of the study population responded to the questionnaire. The mean age of the study population was (34.27 ± 11.47) years. Male participants represented 53.8% of study participants. The majority (80.7%) of study participants had handwashing material for the prevention of COVID-19. Out of 784 study participants, 226 (28.8%) of them utilized alcohol-based hand sanitizer, whereas three fourth of them were non-alcohol-based hand sanitizer utilizer. Out of 29 pharmacy personnel, only 18 (62.1%) of them counseled their client during dispensing of alcohol-based hand sanitizers. Low-income status (AOR=2.71, CI; 1.18-6.19), single marital status (AOR=15.47, CI; 1.96-12.19), Lack of formal education (AOR=11.67, CI; 4.97-9.10), farmer (AOR=2.31, CI; 2.12-3.45) were significantly associated with non-utilization of alcohol-based hand sanitizer for the prevention COVID-19. Conclusion and recommendations: The utilization of alcohol-based hand sanitizer in the study area was low. About one-third of pharmacy personnel did not counsel their client during dispensing of alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Therefore, the training should be provided on rational use and dispensing of Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizer (ABHS) for the community and pharmacy personnel respectively

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