Assessment Of Safety Of Injection And Related Medical Practices In Health Institutions At Sidama Zone Snnprs

Background: There is substantial discrepancy between much of the epidemiologicalrnevidence and the belief that nearly all of the HIV burden in sub-Sahara Africa can bernaccounted by heterosexual transmission and the sexual behavior of Africans. For this arnnumber of observations raise the question of an alternative route of transmission, forrnwhich medical care and the use of injections are prime candidates.rnObjective: To assess the potential risk of transmission of blood born pathogens (HIV,rnHBV, and HCV) through needles and sharps in health care settings found at Sidama zonernof SNNPRS.rnMethods: Health institutions based cross sectional survey was conducted from Novemberrn2003 to March 2004. From 22 government, 9 NGO and 9 private health institutions, 213rnhealth care workers and 352 clients/patients were interviewed; 178 injection practicesrnwere observed; and dressing and delivery practices were observed in 37 and 27 healthrninstitutions respectively.rnResult: Accordingly, 74% of the observed injections were found out to be unsafe to thernhealth workers, recipients or to the community. Contaminated and unsterile medicalrnequipment that contact open skin or used for percutanous procedure were observed putrnready for reuse in most health institutions. Most (97%) of the health institutes lack atrnleast one equipment that was used for wound care or to assist delivery. Although, mostrnthe health care workers were aware of the transmission of diseases through contaminatedrnvirnneedles, only 7% of them cited HBV, HCV, and HIV simultaneously. Thirty two percentrnof the health care workers reported a 12-month prevalence of accidental needle or sharprninjury. 64% of these were deep or penetrating injuries.rnMost clients/patients (89.5%) were knowledgeable on the transmission of diseasesrnthrough dirty needles. One hundred fifty seven (44.6%) of clients responded that theyrnprefer oral drugs to injection preparations, which was preferred by 136(38.6%), whenrntheir children have fever. As opposed to the clients/patients, the majority (64.9%) of thernHCWs claim that clients prefer injections when they appear to the out patientrndepartments.rnConclusion and recommendations: The study revealed that many injection and relatedrnmedical practices were poor exposing clients/patients, health care workers and therncommunity at risk for blood born pathogens. On job training for health care workers, andrnassessing reasons for the poor safety using assessment tool “A” was recommended.rnKey wordsrnUnsafe, Injection, medical, practice, health institution, blood born pathogens, healthrnworker, clients, patients, clients

Get Full Work

Report copyright infringement or plagiarism