Abstract:
Background: Needle stick and sharps injuries have been recognized as one of the most common
occupational hazards among health care workers. But there are low rate of reports of occupational
hazards among health care workers in health facilities. Every day they are exposed to deadly pathogens
through contaminated needle and other sharps injuries like human immunodeficiency virus, Hepatitis
B and Hepatitis C virus. As a result this study is designed to investigate the magnitude and associated
factors of Needle stick and sharp injuries among health care workers in three hospitals of north showa
zone. The result of the research is very important for policy makers, program implementers and health
care workers to reduce the problem.
Objective: To assess the magnitude and associated factors of needle stick and sharp injuries among
hospitals health care workers in North Showa Zone Oromia Regional state, Ethiopia, 2017.
Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted in March 1-30/ 2017 among health care workers in
three hospitals of North Showa zone, Oromia Regional state, Ethiopia. A total of 302 healthcare
workers were taken from each department in the hospitals. Data were collected using pretested and
self-administered questionnaire. The collected data were entered into Epi-data version 3.1 and analysed
using SPSS version 20.0. Bivariate analysis was carried out to identify the predictors of needle stick
and sharp injuries in the entire work life of the health care workers. Multivariable logistic regression
analysis was used to identify the independent effect of each independent variable on the outcome
variable. Written informed consent was obtained from the participants.
Results: A total of 290 HCWs were enrolled in the study and made the response rate 96%, of whom
157 (54.1%) were males. The overall magnitude of entire work life of needle stick and sharp injury
was 47.9% of which 21% were exposed during the last 12 months. Age category between 30-35yrs
[AOR (95%CI: 0.182(0.040, 0.839] and not reporting due to fear of stigma [AOR (95%CI)
10.297(2.467, 42.971] and thinking that needle stick and sharp injury was not avoidable [AOR
(95%CI) 1.849(1.026, 3.330)] had significant association with the occurrence of needle stick and sharp
injuries in the study area.
Conclusion and recommendation: The finding indicated high prevalence of needle stick and sharps
injuries among HCWs. Using regular safety devices and regular provision of information about needle
stick and sharp injury to health facility is recommended for control and prevention measure of NSSI
