COVID-19 severity and management: a descriptive cross-sectional study among healthcare workers in selected hospitals in the Greater Accra Region, Ghana

Introduction Despite extensive research on the severity and management strategies for COVID-19 within the general population, there remains a notable scarcity of similar investigations focused on healthcare workers (HCWs). We aimed to fill this gap by exploring the clinical features, severity, and therapeutic approaches employed for HCWs who have recovered from COVID-19 in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana. Method A cross-sectional design, utilizing complete enumeration (census), enrolled 252 HCWs with PCR-confirmed COVID-19. Stata LP Version 15 (StataCorp, College Station, Texas, USA) was utilized for data analysis. Descriptive statistics was employed to present categorical variables as frequencies and percentages. Fisher's exact and chi square tests were used to assess the relationship between COVID-19 clinical characteristics and disease severity, with a significance level set at p < 0.05. Results Among the healthcare workers, prevalent signs and symptoms during the active phase of the infection included common cold manifestations (27%), cough (25%), loss of taste (24%), fever (23%), headache (23%), and fatigue (21%). Notably, 88% experienced a mild form of the disease, which was self-managed at home, while 10% required hospitalization due to a moderate-to-severe presentation, and 2% needed supplementary oxygen and intravenous medications. Three-quarters of participants (75%) received the complete COVID-19 vaccine dosage, yet 13% tested positive post-vaccination. Predominant supplements utilized include vitamins C and Zinc (68%), and Azithromycin emerged as the most utilized antibiotic (64%), with 78% self-funding this treatment. Herbal medicine, particularly neem tree concoctions, was relied upon by over half of the respondents (52%) as an alternative in managing COVID-19. The research findings revealed that individuals with underlying comorbidities (p < 0.041), a smoking history (p < 0.001), and alcohol consumption (p = 0.054) were at an increased likelihood of encountering moderate-to-severe manifestations of COVID-19. Conclusion The study highlighted significantly low reinfection frequency among vaccinated HCWs and a heightened risk of severe COVID-19 among individuals engaging in alcohol and tobacco smoking, surpassing the risk associated with recognized underlying health conditions (comorbidities). The findings underscore the importance of advocating for vaccination among HCWs, promoting healthier lifestyle habits, and emphasizing the significance of routine medical examinations.