#0101 Prevalence of occupational exposure to needle-stick injury and associated factors among healthcare workers of developing countries: Systematic review
Needle-Stick Injuries: A Serious Problem for Healthcare Workers in Developing Countries
One notable hazard of working in healthcare is the possibility of experiencing a needle-stick injury while performing tasks such as collecting blood or administering an injection. If the needle has already been inside another person’s body, then needle-stick injuries can cause the transmission of various blood-borne pathogens, such as the hepatitis viruses and HIV. This risk is a matter of particular concern for healthcare workers in developing countries where blood-borne pathogens are prevalent.
To gain insight into the prevalence of needle-stick injuries among healthcare workers in developing countries, in a new study, we systematically reviewed the existing literature on the subject. For our review, we used a range of academic search engines to identify relevant English-language scholarly articles published between 2012 and 2019. The articles of interest were those that surveyed healthcare workers active in developing countries about their experiences with needle-stick injuries.
This literature search yielded 13 relevant articles that collectively surveyed 6,513 healthcare workers active in Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Iran, Jordan, Malaysia, Pakistan, and Tanzania. Of the 3,433 healthcare workers who were asked whether they had ever experienced needle-stick injuries during their careers, 2,201 (64.1%) reported that they had. The study-specific percentage of healthcare workers reporting at least one needle-stick injury at any point in their careers ranged from 38.5% to 100%. Of the 3,107 healthcare workers who were asked whether they had experienced a needle-stick injury over the preceding year, 1,009 (35.7%) reported that they had.
The factors potentially associated with needle-stick injuries included heavy workloads, needle recapping, overuse of injections, and the lack of precautions, training, and experience. The availability of safe disposal boxes and personal protective equipment and the presence of hospital policies on proper needle disposal were all factors that potentially reduced the risk of needle-stick injuries.
In conclusion, these findings indicate that needle-stick injuries are a serious occupational hazard for healthcare workers in developing countries. These results underscore the importance of implementing appropriate safety protocols to reduce the risk of needle-stick injuries.
Link to the original journal article:
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/1348-9585.12179
Title of the paper:
Prevalence of occupational exposure to needle-stick injury and associated factors among healthcare workers of developing countries: Systematic review
Authors:
Dechasa Adare Mengistu and Sina Temesgen Tolera
