Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Health Professionals Toward Disaster and Public Health Emergency Preparedness in Somalia

Background Disasters and public health emergencies pose persistent threats to fragile health systems, particularly in Somalia, where recurrent outbreaks, climate-related shocks, and protracted conflict challenge service delivery and population health. The effectiveness of national preparedness structures, such as surveillance systems and Public Health Emergency Operations Centers, depends heavily on the readiness of the health workforce. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of health professionals toward disaster and public health emergency preparedness in Somalia and to identify factors associated with these domains. Methods A nationwide facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted across eight administrative states of Somalia among 1,678 health professionals selected using multistage sampling. Data were collected using a structured, self-administered questionnaire. Knowledge, attitude, and practice scores were generated using predefined cutoffs. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to identify factors independently associated with each KAP domain. Statistical significance was set at a p-value of less than 0.05. Results The study revealed that 71.0% of participants had adequate knowledge, 69.1% exhibited positive attitudes, and 82.3% demonstrated poor practices toward disaster and public health emergency preparedness. Prior involvement in disaster or outbreak response was the strongest predictor of adequate knowledge (AOR = 31.98; 95% CI: 17.53–58.34), positive attitudes (AOR = 10.44; 95% CI: 6.64–16.40), and good practices (AOR = 22.60; 95% CI: 12.39–41.25). Female sex and clinical professional cadres were significantly associated with higher knowledge levels. Formal preparedness training was strongly associated with good practices (AOR = 3.28; 95% CI: 2.16–4.97). Age, years of experience, marital status, and employment sector also showed significant associations across KAP domains. Conclusion Health professionals in Somalia generally possessed adequate knowledge and favorable attitudes toward disaster and public health emergency preparedness; however, substantial deficiencies were observed in operational practices. These findings highlight critical system-level gaps in training coverage, simulation exercises, and institutional preparedness mechanisms. Strengthening routine in-service training, expanding drills, and integrating preparedness indicators into facility governance and national quality-improvement frameworks are essential to enhance workforce readiness and reinforce Somalia’s capacity to respond effectively to future public health emergencies.