KNOWLEDGE ON ETHICAL CODE OF CONDUCT AND ITS FACTORS AMONG HEALTH PROFESSIONALS IN GOVERNMENTAL HEALTH FACILITIES OF HAWASSA, SIDAMA REGION, ETHIOPIA: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Background: Ethical code of conduct is a vital aspect of healthcare practice that ensures the integrity and reliability of healthcare services. However, in Ethiopia, there is a growing concern among the healthcare profession that the ethical code of conduct is not fully understood by health professionals in governmental health facilities in Hawassa, Sidama region. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the knowledge level and attitude of ethical code of conduct and identify the associated factors among health professionals in governmental health facilities of Hawassa, Sidama region from July 20-30, 2023.

Method and materials: Institutional based cross-sectional study was conducted from July 20-30, 2023 in public health facilities of Hawassa city, Sidama region among randomly selected 466 study subjects. A structured self- administered questionnaire was designed to capture the respondents' demographic characteristics, their attitude and knowledge level on the ethical code of conduct.  Data were entered and analyzed using Epi-data 4.6.0 and SPSS 25 respectively. Continuous variables were summarized with means (±SD). Reliability was checked using Cronbach’s. Binary logistic regression was used to examine associations. Variables with p < 0.2 in bivariate analysis were included in a multivariable model. Multicollinearity was checked using VIF and tolerance tests, and model fit with the Hosmer-Lemeshow test. AORs with 95% CIs were reported, and p < 0.05 was considered significant.

Result: Out of the study participants 334 (71.7%) of them had good knowledge of ethical code of conduct. Regarding attitudes towards ethics, 57.3% of health professionals held favourable attitude. Profession {AOR=0.405, CI:(0.199,0.822)}, trainings on code of ethics {AOR=2.644,CI:(1.307,5.348) working in general hospitals {AOR=0.710,CI:(0.356,1.414)} and facing ethical dilemma {AOR=0.409,CI:(0.194,0.861)} all showed significant relationship with ethical knowledge level.

Conclusion: 70.4% of health professionals agree that there is a knowledge gap regarding medical ethics and legal medicine amongst themselves. Health professionals with favourable attitude, those who got trainings on ethics, and those who work in general hospitals and who face ethical dilemmas had significantly higher score on ethics knowledge. Organizing trainings and experience sharing mechanisms for healthcare workers should be considered to optimise the ethical knowledge of health professionals working in Hawassa city, Sidama.