Awareness of Zika virus Disease Effects on Children, and Attitude towards Infected Unborn Babies, among Caregivers that Visit Immunization Clinic of a Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria

Aims: To assess caregivers’ awareness of Zika virus disease effects on children, infected by their mother during pregnancy; and attitude towards infected unborn babies.

Study Design: This quantitative study, was of observational, descriptive, and cross-sectional design.

Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in the Immunization unit, Enugu State University Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria; between November 2016 and February 2017.

Methodology: A trained Resident doctor in the department of Community Medicine, interviewed 10 randomly selected female caregivers that brought children to the hospital for immunization. Thirty respondents were interviewed each week for eight weeks, since immunization activity was conducted three days in a week. Sixteen were interviewed on the ninth week; making a total of 256 respondents.

Results: A total of 256 women participated in the study, with 89.5% of them being married, and 86.0% falling within the age range of 20 – 39 years. Overall awareness on Zika virus infection effect on children such as failure to thrive, involuntary muscle contractions, learning handicap, visual and hearing impairment, and less functional individual with reduced societal value were poor. None of the total scores were up to 50.0%. In situation where Zika virus is detected in an unborn baby, praying and leaving the outcome to God was the highest selected option (48.8%), while abandoning the baby in the hospital was the least selected option (6.6%). Other options were accepting and caring for the baby (41.8%), and terminating the pregnancy (14.8%).

Conclusion: Though the declaration of Zika virus infection by the World Health Organization, as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern was lifted since November 2016; the infection could still be going on undetected, in many low- and middle-income countries. Efforts should be made to improve on the level of awareness on Zika virus, and effects on children.