Assessment of the Challenges towards COVID-19 Testing among Final Year Medical Students in Enugu State, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Health infrastructure manned by trained personnel is very limited in sub-Saharan African countries, Nigeria inclusive due to various factors. Testing for SARS-COV-2 met with this limitation hence causing a sub-optimal level of testing for the infection. Efforts to procure reliable testing kits have been limited by various factors with medical students also being among those affected. Objective: This study was aimed at assessing the knowledge level and challenges of the final year medical students towards COVID-19 testing in Enugu, a state in the Southeastern part of Nigeria. Methods: A descriptive and inferential cross-sectional study of 137 medical students in Enugu state, Nigeria, was done. Ethical approval was obtained from the Health, Research and Ethical committee of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, UNTH, Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu state, Nigeria. Data was collected using validated self-administered virtual questionnaires and a descriptive and inferential analysis were done using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS). Results: A total of one hundred and thirty-seven (137) responses were received; 86.8% who had symptoms suggestive of Covid-19 never got tested. As regards to reasons for not being tested, 36.9% affirmed to perceived discomfort of the testing method; 36 % said delay at testing centers; 33.5% inadequate testing centers; 31.4% lack of knowledge of available testing centers; 31.4% unavailability of PCR testing kits; 10% percent indicated fear of result as their reason for not been tested, 8.3% indicated some levels of religious basis for not being tested. In terms of knowledge, 61.8% were aware of PCR as a testing method, and 33.6% aware of the serology tests. Females were more likely not to get tested for COVID-19 when symptomatic. Unlike the males, most of the females also did not agree that there are sufficient numbers of COVID-19 testing centres in Enugu state; although analysis of both result was not statistically significant. (p-value- 0.49; p-value- 0.18 respectively). Conclusion: COVID-19 diagnostic testing among medical students in Enugu state, Nigeria is sub-optimal and may result in an under-reporting of infections in Enugu state, Nigeria. Hence, the need for mass diagnostic testing and re-orientation cannot be overemphasized at both state and national level. Recommendation: We recommend the provision of more affordable and reliable testing options by the Government. Increased sensitization on the availability of COVID-19 testing centers to medical students in Enugu state and the public in general would also be needed.