Sharps Injuries Among Healthcare Providers in Uyo, Southern Nigeria

Abstract

Introduction: Healthcare workers are at risk of exposures to blood and body fluids through splashes and sharps injuries while working in health facilities. This study was conducted to assess the level of sharps injuries and contact with patients’ body fluid among health workers in Uyo, Nigeria.Method: This was a comparative study among healthcare workers. A total of 360 individuals comprising 240 (66.7%) in public facilities and 120 (33.3%) in private facilities were interviewed via a selfadministered questionnaire. Data was analysed using SPSS version 11.Result: A higher proportion of respondents, 98 (81.7%), from the private compared to 133 (55.4%) from the public hospitals had sustained injury by sharps at their health facilities (p < 0.05).Out of this, up to 91.8% in the private facilities compared to 70.6% in the public had sustained injuries within the 12 months prior to the study (p < 0.05). Ninety two (93.9%) in the private facilities,and 99 (74.4%) in the public facilities, (p < 0.05) did not report the last sharps injuries to relevant authorities in their facilities. A higher proportion of the respondents in the private hospitals, 92 (76.6%), had ever had accidental splash of blood or other body fluidscompared to 126 (52.5%) in the public hospitals (p < 0.05). Only 113 (53.3%), in the public and 28 (40.6%) in the private facilities, were aware of policies about practice of Universal Precautions in their facilities.Conclusion: There was a high rate of sharps injuries among health workers. Adequate practice of universal precautions should be ensured in these facilities.