Knowledge, attitude, and practice of first aid among traffic police officers in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Abstract

Abstract Introduction: An overwhelming proportion of road traffic injuries and deaths occur in low and middle-income countries, including Ethiopia, in prehospital environments. Such victims arrive at the treatment centers too late, after the golden hour, or develop irreversible complications. There is lack of evidence regarding knowledge, attitude, and practice of first aid among traffic police officers in Ethiopia Objective: To assess knowledge, attitude, and practice of first aid among traffic police personnel in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using a pretested, structured, self-administered questionnaire on traffic police officers in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Data was entered using Excel 2016 and analyzed using SPSS version 26. Descriptive analysis was used to summarize baseline characteristics and determine the level of first aid related aid-related attitude and practice. Bivariable and multivariable regression analyses were employed to determine factors associated with the outcome variable. Odds ratio (OR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) was computed, and a p-value <0.05 was considered significant. Results: A total of two hundred and seventy-eight traffic police officers were included. Males predominated with a male-to-female sex ratio of 2.4:1, and the median age of the participants was 32 years. Of all respondents, 162 (58.3%;95% CI: 52.4–64.1%) had good first aid related knowledge, 167 (60.1%;95%CI: 54.3–65.9%) had positive attitude while 143 (51.4%; 95% CI: 45.5–57.4%) showed safe first aid practice. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that having a history of witnessing a victim in the preceding one year [AOR (95%CI =1.86 (1.06,3.27)] and a good level of knowledge about first aid [AOR=3.14(95%CI: 1.90,5.19)] were significantly associated with self-reported first aid practice among the traffic officers. Multiple logistic regression analysis that those who have previous first aid training, good first aid related knowledge, and woke experience greater than 5 years significantly associated with a positive(favorable) attitude towards first aid among traffic polices. Conclusion: Despite a relatively better attitude, the level of first-related knowledge and practice in the study population is low. Therefore, concerned bodies should work jointly to enhance officers’ knowledge and practice level in a context-friendly manner. Keywords: First aid, Knowledge, Attitude and Practice, Traffic police officers, Factors, Ethiopia