MAGNITUDE OF SHARP AND NEEDLE STICK INJURIES AND THEIR RELATED SAFETY MEASURES AMONG HEALTH CARE WORKERS IN WORABE COMPREHENSIVE SPECILAZED HOSPITAL, SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA, 20

Abstract

Back ground: Needle stick and sharps injuries are occupational hazards to healthcare workers that resulted from accidental piercing of the skin of health care worker. Needle stick injuries expose health care workers to blood and body fluids which may be infected and can be transmitted to them every day healthcare workers are exposed to blood borne pathogens through contaminated needles and other sharp objects. About twenty blood borne pathogens can be transmitted through accidental needle stick and sharp injury. Objective: To assess magnitude of sharp and needle stick injuries and their related safety measure among Health care Workers in worabe comprehensive specialized hospital. Methods: Hospital based cross-sectional study design to assess magnitude of sharp and needle stick injury and their related safety measures among 578 health care workers of worabe comprehensive hospital was conducted from June 10 to July 6 2021.the study populations were stratified in to different working departments. Simple random sampling technique was used to collect data for study population. Data was collected using structured questioner. The questionnaire was prepared in English and Amharic language and filled by health care workers working in worabe comprehensive specialized hospital. The collected data were checked for completeness and consistency by the investigator ahead of data entry for analysis. Completed questionnaire was given identification number and entered in to EPI information version 3.5.1. The data was coded and analyzed using SPSS version 25 and was presented with texts, figures and graphs Result: From selected study participants all 340 responded to the questionnaire. The study revealed that 30.6% of healthcare workers had experience needle-stick and sharp injuries within their work years of experience. Out of the total participants 174 (51.2%) were females, Regarding the age of the participants, 202 (59.4%) lie in the age group between 20-29 years. Majority of the study participants were nurses 41.8%. Regarding working hour 198 (58.2%) of the participant had working hour of >40 hours per week. About 87 (25.6%) of the participants have got injured 2-4 times and injuries occurred in recapping were 29 (8.5%). Twenty-three (6.8%) of the injury occurred in medical ward. The magnitude of needle stick and sharp injury were high among males x 55 (52.9%). The majority of injuries 93 (27.4%) occurred during day time Needle hollow-bore causing highest percent of injury 19.1%, out of the study participants 57(16.8%) recapped needle always and 85(2.0%) recapped needle seldom. Majority 177(52.1%) of health care workers did not take full dose of hepatitis vaccine, 110 (32.4) did not had training on safety practice. Conclusion This study showed a high magnitude of needle stick or sharps among healthcare workers. Therefore, training on work related safety and wellbeing, making safety instructions accessible and avoiding a recap of the needle after use are important to reduce the chance of such injuries among healthcare worke