Needlesticks and sharp injuries and their associated factors among health care workers of Bule Hora University Teaching Hospital, Southern Ethiopia

Background

This study assessed the prevalence and associated factors of needle sticks and sharp injuries among healthcare workers at the Bule Hora University Teaching Hospital, Southern Ethiopia from December 1 to 30, 2023.

Methods

A self-administered questionnaire was used to gather information on sociodemographic factors and exposure status. Epi-Data and SPSS were used to enter and analyze data. Binary and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to identify risk factors. A P value less than 0.05 was considered statistical significance.

Results

In this study, the prevalence of at least one Needlesticks and sharp injuries in the last 12 months was 46.4 % (95 % CI: 39.3 %-53.6 %). Of most needlesticks and sharp injuries, 47.2 % were superficial skin injuries. The majority of injuries 45.8 % were due to the syringe needle. Factors such as needle recap (AOR=3.73, 95 % CI: 1.07–12.19), Recapping with two hands (AOR=2.78, 95 % CI: 1.36–10.02), working 40 h per week (AOR=2.18, 95 % CI: 0.98–6.86), lack of training in occupational safety practices (AOR=4.01, 95 % CI: 2.60–9.91), and lack of job satisfaction were factors significantly associated with the prevalence of needlesticks and sharp injuries.

Conclusion

This study found that nearly half of the respondents experienced a sharp needle poke and injury at least once in the previous year; however, the volume of NSSI remains high in the study area. Healthcare personnel should receive on-the-job training, and hospital executives should set aside time for discussions on how to solve the problem.