Availability and use of personal protective equipment in low- and middle-income countries during the COVID-19 pandemic.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Availability and appropriate use of personal protective equipment (PPE) is of particular importance in Low and Middle-Income countries (LMICs) where disease outbreaks other than COVID-19 are frequent and health workers are scarce. This study assesses the availability of necessary PPE items during the COVID-19 pandemic at health facilities in seven LMICs.

Methods

Data were collected using a rapid-cycle survey among 1554 health facilities in seven LMICs via phone-based surveys between August 2020 and December 2021. We gathered data on the availability of World Health Organization (WHO)-recommended PPE items and the use of items when examining patients suspected to be infected with COVID-19. We further investigated the implementation of service adaptation measures in

SUBMITTER: Drouard SHP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10351736 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature