MWALE, Thandiwe2026-05-132026https://research.unilus.ac.zm/handle/123456789/625Master of Science in Epidemiology and Biostatistics - ThesisThis study assessed the determinants of hospital preparedness for emergency disease outbreaks in Lusaka District, Zambia, focusing on Matero Level 1 Hospital and Chipata First-Level Hospital. A cross-sectional design was employed, targeting 125 outpatient health workers across both facilities, with a response rate of 70% (87 participants). Data were collected using structured self-administered questionnaires and analysed using STATA version 19. The study revealed mixed levels of preparedness: 23% of respondents rated their hospitals as highly prepared, 66.7% as moderately prepared, and 10.3% as poorly prepared. Key determinants influencing preparedness included institutional policies, financial resources, human resource capacity, and infrastructure and commodity availability. Institutional policies were the most significant contributor (β = 0.430, p < .001), highlighting the importance of structured frameworks. Financial resources also played a crucial role (β = 0.302, p = .005), while human resource capacity and infrastructure availability had weaker or non-significant impacts. Challenges included insufficient financial resources, inadequate staff training, poor infrastructure, and limited resource availability. To address these gaps, the study recommends regular staff training, improved drug supply systems, investment in medical equipment, and enhanced stakeholder involvement in policy development. Regular emergency drills and feedback systems were also emphasized as vital for continuous improvement. The study underscores the need for a multifaceted approach to enhance hospital preparedness, combining strategic planning, resource allocation, and capacity building. Future research should explore preparedness in higher-level hospitals and compare public versus private healthcare facilities to provide a broader understanding of emergency preparedness in Zambia. Keywords: Emergency preparedness, disease outbreak, hospital readiness, determinants, Lusaka District, Zambia, health systems.enThesis