Abstract
Background: Medical Centre Oshakati (MCO), a private hospital in Oshakati, Namibia, reported at least ten Needle Stick Injuries (NSIs) among Health Care Workers (HCWs) every month in 2019. The study aimed to assess the prevalence of NSIs among HCWs at MCO in Oshakati, Namibia. Objectives: The objectives were to measure the twelve months and career prevalence of NSIs, to determine the frequency distributions of issues related to NSIs, whether there was an association between NSIs and occupation, and between NSIs and work experience among the HCWs at MCO. Methods: An analytic cross-sectional study design was used for the study. A proportional stratified random sampling method was used to select 400 respondents for the study. The stratification was by occupation. A self-administered questionnaire developed for the study was used for data collection. Data analysis was done using IBM SPSS version 27. Chi-square tests and logistic regression were carried out to determine the association between NSIs and several independent variables. Results: The outcome variable was 12 months prevalence of NSIs. The 12 months prevalence rate of NSIs among HCWs at MCO was 37.5% while the career prevalence was 55.3%. Among respondents who experienced career NSIs, 30.3% reported that their last NSIs occurred in theatre, 40.3% were caused by syringe needles, 70.5% occurred on fingers, and 74.7% were of a prick nature. Chi-square tests showed that there was an association between occupation and NSIs (p<0.01), and between work experience and NSIs (p<0.01). Age groups 26-30 years and 31-35 years were significantly less likely to experience NSIs in the past 12 months compared to age group 21-25 years, Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) = 0.33, 95% CI (0.16 – 0.67), and AOR = 0.43, 95% CI (0.20 – 0.94) respectively. Nurses were significantly more likely to experience NSIs in the past 12 months compared to doctors, AOR = 4.31, 95% CI (1.50 – 12.38). Respondents with 2-5 years of work experience were significantly less likely to experience NSIs in the past 12 months compared to those with less than two years of work experience, AOR = 0.36, 95% CI (0.21 – 0.62). Conclusion: The prevalence of NSIs among HCWs at MCO was high. There are several factors that are contributing to this. Some of the factors include the occupation of the HCWs and their work experience. It is therefore important that the hospital employs adequate HCWs, offers training on handling of sharp instruments to its employees, and procures sharp instruments with safety features. Keywords: Prevalence, Health care workers, Needlestick injuries, Work experience, Namibia.
MPH. (Public Health)