American Journal of Health Research

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Epidemiology of Needle Stick-Sharp Injuries (NSSIs) and Potential High Risk Exposures among Health Professionals in Ethiopia: Neglected Public Health Concern

Received: 18 August 2015    Accepted: 30 August 2015    Published: 09 September 2015
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Abstract

Health professionals are exposed to a wide range of hazards in the workplace. Needle stick injuries have been recognized as one of the occupational hazards. Healthcare worker handling sharp devices or equipment is at risk of occupational exposure to blood borne pathogens. Despite the burden of potential exposures, in Ethiopia, there are only few researches that have been conducted; as a result there is clearly paucity of information on this regard. The aim of the research conducted was to determine the epidemiology of needle stick-sharp injuries and high risk exposures among health professionals in public hospitals, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Hospital based cross sectional survey conducted among health professionals at public hospitals, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. A pretested and structured questionnaire was utilized to collect data on socio-demographic, needle stick injury and other high risk exposures. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 16.Statistical significance was declared at P-value <=0.05.Of the total study participants, prevalence of sustained needle stick injuries (NSIs) and sharp injury was found 155(61.2%) and 127(50%), respectively. Majority of the study subjects, which account 184(72.4%) and 153(60.2%) of them were exposed for blood while ungloved and body fluid, respectively. Consistent use of gloves was reported by 52.4% of respondents. Of the total study participants, 9(3.5%) of respondents were vaccinated against hepatitis B virus infection. The study declared that exposure for potentially infectious body fluids including blood, needle stick injuries, sharp injury and other risk factors was high. But, the study indicated only very small percentages of health professionals were partially vaccinated for HBV. Taking into account the chance of potential exposure, there is a need to focus efforts on mitigating blood borne pathogen transmission through making the work place environment safe and making use of the available vaccine by vaccinating all health care workers at the start of their career.

DOI 10.11648/j.ajhr.20150305.16
Published in American Journal of Health Research (Volume 3, Issue 5, September 2015)
Page(s) 298-304
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Health Professionals, Universal Precaution, Needle Stick Injury, Sharp Injury, Body Fluid Exposure, Vaccination Status, Ethiopia

References
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Author Information
  • Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, School of Medicine, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

  • Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, School of Medicine, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

  • Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, School of Medicine, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

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    Zelalem Desalegn, Solomon Gebreselassie, Yehenew Asemamaw. (2015). Epidemiology of Needle Stick-Sharp Injuries (NSSIs) and Potential High Risk Exposures among Health Professionals in Ethiopia: Neglected Public Health Concern. American Journal of Health Research, 3(5), 298-304. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajhr.20150305.16

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    Zelalem Desalegn; Solomon Gebreselassie; Yehenew Asemamaw. Epidemiology of Needle Stick-Sharp Injuries (NSSIs) and Potential High Risk Exposures among Health Professionals in Ethiopia: Neglected Public Health Concern. Am. J. Health Res. 2015, 3(5), 298-304. doi: 10.11648/j.ajhr.20150305.16

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    AMA Style

    Zelalem Desalegn, Solomon Gebreselassie, Yehenew Asemamaw. Epidemiology of Needle Stick-Sharp Injuries (NSSIs) and Potential High Risk Exposures among Health Professionals in Ethiopia: Neglected Public Health Concern. Am J Health Res. 2015;3(5):298-304. doi: 10.11648/j.ajhr.20150305.16

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ajhr.20150305.16,
      author = {Zelalem Desalegn and Solomon Gebreselassie and Yehenew Asemamaw},
      title = {Epidemiology of Needle Stick-Sharp Injuries (NSSIs) and Potential High Risk Exposures among Health Professionals in Ethiopia: Neglected Public Health Concern},
      journal = {American Journal of Health Research},
      volume = {3},
      number = {5},
      pages = {298-304},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ajhr.20150305.16},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajhr.20150305.16},
      eprint = {https://download.sciencepg.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajhr.20150305.16},
      abstract = {Health professionals are exposed to a wide range of hazards in the workplace. Needle stick injuries have been recognized as one of the occupational hazards. Healthcare worker handling sharp devices or equipment is at risk of occupational exposure to blood borne pathogens. Despite the burden of potential exposures, in Ethiopia, there are only few researches that have been conducted; as a result there is clearly paucity of information on this regard. The aim of the research conducted was to determine the epidemiology of needle stick-sharp injuries and high risk exposures among health professionals in public hospitals, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Hospital based cross sectional survey conducted among health professionals at public hospitals, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. A pretested and structured questionnaire was utilized to collect data on socio-demographic, needle stick injury and other high risk exposures. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 16.Statistical significance was declared at P-value <=0.05.Of the total study participants, prevalence of sustained needle stick injuries (NSIs) and sharp injury was found 155(61.2%) and 127(50%), respectively. Majority of the study subjects, which account 184(72.4%) and 153(60.2%) of them were exposed for blood while ungloved and body fluid, respectively. Consistent use of gloves was reported by 52.4% of respondents. Of the total study participants, 9(3.5%) of respondents were vaccinated against hepatitis B virus infection. The study declared that exposure for potentially infectious body fluids including blood, needle stick injuries, sharp injury and other risk factors was high. But, the study indicated only very small percentages of health professionals were partially vaccinated for HBV. Taking into account the chance of potential exposure, there is a need to focus efforts on mitigating blood borne pathogen transmission through making the work place environment safe and making use of the available vaccine by vaccinating all health care workers at the start of their career.},
     year = {2015}
    }
    

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    AB  - Health professionals are exposed to a wide range of hazards in the workplace. Needle stick injuries have been recognized as one of the occupational hazards. Healthcare worker handling sharp devices or equipment is at risk of occupational exposure to blood borne pathogens. Despite the burden of potential exposures, in Ethiopia, there are only few researches that have been conducted; as a result there is clearly paucity of information on this regard. The aim of the research conducted was to determine the epidemiology of needle stick-sharp injuries and high risk exposures among health professionals in public hospitals, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Hospital based cross sectional survey conducted among health professionals at public hospitals, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. A pretested and structured questionnaire was utilized to collect data on socio-demographic, needle stick injury and other high risk exposures. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 16.Statistical significance was declared at P-value <=0.05.Of the total study participants, prevalence of sustained needle stick injuries (NSIs) and sharp injury was found 155(61.2%) and 127(50%), respectively. Majority of the study subjects, which account 184(72.4%) and 153(60.2%) of them were exposed for blood while ungloved and body fluid, respectively. Consistent use of gloves was reported by 52.4% of respondents. Of the total study participants, 9(3.5%) of respondents were vaccinated against hepatitis B virus infection. The study declared that exposure for potentially infectious body fluids including blood, needle stick injuries, sharp injury and other risk factors was high. But, the study indicated only very small percentages of health professionals were partially vaccinated for HBV. Taking into account the chance of potential exposure, there is a need to focus efforts on mitigating blood borne pathogen transmission through making the work place environment safe and making use of the available vaccine by vaccinating all health care workers at the start of their career.
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