Occupational exposure to sharp injuries and associated factors among nurses in Nekemte referral hospital, West Oromia, Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Occupational exposure to health risks exist wherever health care is practiced. Nurses are the largest hospital work force that face occupational hazards particularly the transmission of blood borne pathogens such as Human immune deficiency virus, Hepatitis B virus and Hepatitis C virus through needle stick and sharp injuries. Objective: to assess the occupational exposure to sharp injuries and associated factors among nurses in Nekemte referral hospital, West Oromia , Ethiopia, January 9 to 21, 2024. Method: Institution-based census was conducted among 121 nurses working in Nekemte referral hospitals from January 9 to 21, 2024. Data were collected by using pretested self-administered questionnaire. Data was analyzed using manual scientific calculator; test of association was done by using chi-square test. Result: Of the total 129 questionnaire were distributed 121 returned and this yield a response rate of 93.8%.  52(43%) were exposed to sharp injury in their experience years and the prevalence of sharp injury in the last 12 months was found to be 14(11.6%). Injection needle was the most frequently mentioned causative device 22(42.3%). Nearly fifty percent (48%) were exposed to sharp injury in an emergency situation, where as majority of the nurses (38.2%) in the outpatient department where exposed to sharp injury. Also around sixty percent (57.7) of injury were occurred during night time. More than eighty percent (82.7%) of the nurses didn’t report their sharp injuries. Conclusion and recommendation: Forty three percent of the nurses had ever exposed to sharp injuries whereas the prevalence of sharp injuries in the 12 months preceding the study was (11.6%). An emergency situation, age and training were associated variables with exposure to sharp injuries. On the other hands, majority of the nurses were found not trained on prevention strategies. Therefore, improving nurse reporting practice of incident to obtain services, updating prevention strategies and arrange training for nurses on prevention of sharp injuries and importance of reporting.

Keywords: Sharp injuries, Needle stick injury, Occupational exposure, Nurse