Knowledge and Practice toward Needle Stick Injuries among Health Care Workers at Public Hospitals in Mukalla City-Hadhramout, Yemen

Abstract

Background: Needle Stick Injuries (NSIs) are defined as accidental skin- penetrating stab wounds from a hollow-bore needle containing another person’s blood or body fluid. NSIs are one of the most potential hazards for health care workers. They pose a significant risk of occupational transmission of blood-borne pathogens.
Objectives: The aim of the study is to assess knowledge and practice toward needle stick injuries among health care workers (HCWs) at public hospitals in Mukalla city.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among health care workers at Ibn Sina General Hospital Authority and Mukalla Maternal and Childhood Hospital. A pre-tested, self-administered questionnaire was used for the data collection. Descriptive statistics were made to analyze the collected data using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26.
Results: Most respondents, 194 (75.8%) aged between (21-31) years, males and females were almost equally distributed. Vast majority of HCWs 234 (91.4%) have a good knowledge regarding NSIs, while only 22 (8.6%) have a poor knowledge. Most of HCWs 237 (92.6%) have a poor practice toward NSIs, while only 19 (7.4%) have a good practice.
Conclusion: Majority of HCWs have a good knowledge, and poor practice toward NSIs. Most of them know that NSIs can be preventable. More than two thirds strongly agree that needles should be discarded immediately after use. Only less than one third use the one-hand method for recapping needles.