Occupational Exposure To Needle Stick Injuries Among Health Care Workers At The Tamale Teaching Hospital

Abstract

Background: Needle stick and sharp injuries (NSSIs) or needle stick injuries (NSI) have been recognized as one of the most serious occupational health hazards among health care workers (HCWs) with a potentially high risk of transmitting blood borne pathogens. Such pathogens include hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The incidence of NSIs is highest in low income countries ostensibly due to lack of strict adherence to the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) or lack of these PPE thereof. Objectives: The aim of this study was to identify the category of HCWs likely to be more exposed to NSIs, determine the practices leading to these injuries, evaluate the frequency of these injuries among HCWs, and finally assess whether there are existing control measures at the Tamale Teaching Hospital to prevent or minimize these injuries. Methods: The study was a descriptive cross-sectional study and utilized a pre-tested, structured and self-administered questionnaires. A total of 250 participants (HCWs) were included in this study. A proportional stratified sampling method was used to sample participants for the study. Convenience sampling method was then used to select from each stratum to get the required sample size (n= 250). Completed questionnaires were coded, entered into Microsoft Excel spreadsheet (Version 13) and statistical analysis done in STATA (Version 13). Results: The study findings revealed that 165(66%) of the respondents were involved in NSIs at the hospital of which 98(59.4%) were males. Majority of the injured respondents (54.6%) experienced injuries between 1-2 times in their professional life, whereas a few (7.3%) experienced injuries between 5-10 times. The most common activity which led to NSIs among participants was during administration of injection to patients (36.4%). Other activities included recapping of needles after use (28.5%), venous cannulation and setting of drips (26.1%) and suturing (24.9%). Of the injured workers, 60.6% were nurses, 5.5% midwives, 20% medical doctors, 6.1% laboratory technicians, 4.2% anesthetists, and 3.6% were cleaners. Needle stick injuries was significantly lower in female workers (OR=0.58; 0.34, 0.98), compared to their male counterparts, but significantly higher in workers aged 30-39 years (OR=2.25; 1.29, 3.94), and those who had training in infection prevention and control in the last five years (OR=4.33; 1.84, 10.21). Almost all the respondents 237 (94.8%) indicated that they were provided with gloves and 81.6% reported that safety boxes were provided for the disposal of sharps. Fourty eight and half percent (48.5%) of the injured respondents did not report their injuries. Conclusion: Results of this study showed high prevalence of NSIs among HCWs at the Tamale Teaching Hospital. The object or sharp that caused most of the injuries is the hypodermic needle, and majority of the respondents have had 1-2 times NSI mostly during administration of injection to patients. Periodic education to staff involved in the handling of sharps on potential health implications of such injuries as well as adequate supply and training on use of PPE and safety devices can help reduce the rate of NSIs at the Tamale Teaching Hospital.