Needle stick injuries among nurses in sub‐Saharan Africa

Abstract

Summaryobjectives Despite a heavy burden of HIV/AIDS and other blood borne infections, few studies have investigated needle stick injuries in sub-Saharan Africa. We conducted a cross-sectional study at Mulago national referral hospital in Kampala, Uganda, to assess the occurrence and risk factors of needle stick injuries among nurses and midwives.methods A total of 526 nurses and midwives involved in the direct day-to-day management of patients answered a questionnaire inquiring about occurrence of needle stick injuries and about potential predictors, including work experience, work load, working habits, training, and risk behaviour.results A 57% of the nurses and midwives had experienced at least one needle stick injury in the last year. Only 18% had not experienced any such injury in their entire career. The rate of needle stick injuries was 4.2 per person-year. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the most important risk factor for needle stick injuries was lack of training on such injuries (OR 5.72, 95% CI 3.41-9.62).Other important risk factors included working for more than 40 h/week (OR 1.90, 95% CI 1.20-3.31), recapping needles most of the time (OR 1.78, 95% CI 1.11-2.86), and not using gloves when handling needles (OR 1.91, 95% CI 1.10-3.32).conclusions The study showed a high rate of needle stick injuries among nurses and midwives working in Uganda. The strongest predictor for needle stick injuries was lack of training. Other important risk factors were related to long working hours, working habits, and experience.

Prevalence of needle sticks injury and its associated factors among Health Care Workers in Bahir Dar city Health Centers, Northwest Ethiopia

“…When we compared our finding of NSI prevalence with studies done in Pakistan 67%, 16 Sub-Saharan Africa 57%, 12 and Ethiopia 66%, 17 the prevalence of NSI in the present study was lower. The reason why our study is lower than the other studies might be the difference in the study population, sample size and time frame.…”

“…Even though there were methodology and study site differences, our study was in line with Pakistan, Ugandan and Ethiopian studies. A study in Pakistan, and Uganda showed that lack of training was the main factors leading to needle stick injuries, 10,12 working for more than 40hour per week, recapping needles and not using gloves when handling needles were associated factors. 12 A recent study in FHRH also identified suboptimal practices and behaviours that put them at risk to the injury.…”

Needlestick Injuries among Nurses in a Tertiary Care Hospital: A Work Hazard or Lack of Awareness?

“…7 This prevalence of needle stick injuries in these hospitals was due to low level of awareness and poor compliance with the universal safety measures. Practices like recapping were still being followed by some of the nurses.…”

The occurrence of occupational health hazards in districts health facilities in Kigali, Rwanda

“…Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the most important risk factor for needle stick injuries was lack of training on such injuries (OR 5.72, 95% CI 3.41-9.62). 25 Another study on current status of occupational health and safety (OHS) in Tanzanian hospitals, identified that needle stick injuries accounted for the largest part of the most common accidents (52.9%); followed by splash of blood from patients (21.7%); burn injury from chemicals (10.6%); and slippery floors (5.9%). 26 Findings on the classification of occupational health hazards with highest frequency as identified by the study participants among types of health hazards that occurred in the health facilities includes: needle stick injuries cuts and tissue damage neck and back pain and workload and overtime.…”