An Epidemiological Study of Needlestick Injury among Healthcare Workers in Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, Nigeria.

Background: Occupationally acquired infections are leading causes of morbidity and mortality among health care workers. The study aimed to determine knowledge, attitude and preventive practices of health care workers on needle stick injuries in Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria.

Methods: This was a cross sectional descriptive study in which stratified sampling technique was used to sample respondents. Data was collected using structured, close ended self-administered questionnaire.

Results: A total of 166 respondents completed the questionnaires out of 250 distributed questionnaires. Forty-three (25.9%) were males, 123 (74.1%) were females. The combined mean age was 40.9 ± 9.8 years. All the respondents were aware and knew of transmission of blood borne pathogens. Majority 116 (70.7%) had ever sustained injury while at work and 14 (8.8%) sustained injury in the last 3 months. The incidence of injury increases with work duration (c2= 17.88, p=0.001) and length of practice (c2=10.38, p=0.001). Eighty percent of respondents had received training on universal precautions. The commonest place of exposure was in the wards (65.6%) and circumstances of exposure were respectively sudden patient movements 21(19.3%) and recapping needle 20 (18.3%). Only 52 (43.3%) of respondents took appropriate measure (rinsing and disinfecting) the site after injury.

Conclusion: This study revealed the high risk health care workers are exposed to at work. There is urgent need to improve the safety of health care workers through continuing education and strict adherence to universal precautions. There is need to establish a surveillance system to monitor such incidents and provision of post-exposure prophylaxis to those accidentally exposed.