Needle stick injuries among nurses of two tertiary care hospitals of Lahore: A KAP study

Citation: 
S. Hassnain
Publication year: 
2021

Background:

Needle Stick Injuries (NSIs) are wounds caused by needles that accidentally puncture the skin. NSI are one of the commonest occupational hazards to which a Health Care Worker is exposed.2 million out of 35 million health care workers experience NSI per year.90% of Hep.B, Hep.C and HIV cases among health care workers due to NSI occur in the developing countries. A high prevalence of needle-stick injuries in Pakistan estimated around 55%.This study wasconducted to estimate the prevalence of needlestick injuries in female nurses of a public and private hospital and compare the findings.

Methods and materials:

This cross-sectional study was conducted at one public and one private tertiary care hospital in Lahore, Pakistan. Comprised of female nurses whowere selected using nonprobability purposive sampling. A structured questionnaire was used to interview the subjects. Data analysis was done using SPSS 17.

Results:

Of the 386 participants, there were 193(50%) from each of the two hospitals. The prevalence of needle-stick injuries was found to be 85(44%) in public and 51(26.4%) in the private hospital. The highest proportion of injuries in both hospitals occurred while disposing or recapping needles, 36(42.4%) and 32(62.7%) in public and private hospitals, respectively, especially in the morning shift, i.e. 42(49.4%) in public and 32(62.7%) in private hospital. Syringe needles were mostly involved, 51(60%) in public and 45(88.2%) in private hospital.

Conclusion:

The prevalence of needle-stick injuries was higherin public hospital.