Sudesh Gyawali1, Devendra Singh Rathore2, P Ravi Shankar3, Vikash Kumar Kc4, Nisha Jha5, Damodar Sharma1. 1. Department of Pharmacology, Manipal College of Medical Sciences, Pokhara, Kaski, Pin code: 33700, Nepal. 2. NIMS Institute of Pharmacy, NIMS University, Shobha Nagar, Jaipur-Delhi Highway, Jaipur, Pin code: 303121, India. 3. Department of Pharmacology, Xavier University School of Medicine, Oranjestad, Aruba, Kingdom of the Netherlands. 4. Department of Statistics, Prithvi Narayan Multiple Campus, Pokhara, Kaski, Pin code 33700, Nepal. 5. Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, KIST Medical College, Imadol, Lalitpur, Pin code: 44705, Nepal.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Unsafe injection practice can transmit various blood borne infections. The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge and practice of injection safety among injection providers, to obtain information about disposal of injectable devices, and to compare the knowledge and practices of urban and rural injection providers. METHODS: The study was conducted with injection providers working at primary health care facilities within Kaski district, Nepal. Ninety-six health care workers from 69 primary health care facilities were studied and 132 injection events observed. A semi-structured checklist was used for observing injection practice and a questionnaire for the survey. Respondents were interviewed to complete the questionnaire and obtain possible explanations for certain observed behaviors. RESULTS: All injection providers knew of at least one pathogen transmitted through use/re-use of unsterile syringes. Proportion of injection providers naming hepatitis/jaundice as one of the diseases transmitted by unsafe injection practice was significantly higher in urban (75.6%) than in rural (39.2%) area. However, compared to urban respondents (13.3%), a significantly higher proportion of rural respondents (37.3%) named Hepatitis B specifically as one of the diseases transmitted. Median (inter-quartile range) number of therapeutic injection and injectable vaccine administered per day by the injection providers were 2 (1) and 1 (1), respectively. Two handed recapping by injection providers was significantly higher in urban area (33.3%) than in rural areas (21.6%). Most providers were not aware of the post exposure prophylaxis guideline. CONCLUSION: The knowledge of the injection providers about safe injection practice was acceptable. The use of safe injection practice by providers in urban and rural health care facilities was almost similar. The deficiencies noted in the practice must be addressed.
BACKGROUND: Unsafe injection practice can transmit various blood borne infections. The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge and practice of injection safety among injection providers, to obtain information about disposal of injectable devices, and to compare the knowledge and practices of urban and rural injection providers. METHODS: The study was conducted with injection providers working at primary health care facilities within Kaski district, Nepal. Ninety-six health care workers from 69 primary health care facilities were studied and 132 injection events observed. A semi-structured checklist was used for observing injection practice and a questionnaire for the survey. Respondents were interviewed to complete the questionnaire and obtain possible explanations for certain observed behaviors. RESULTS: All injection providers knew of at least one pathogen transmitted through use/re-use of unsterile syringes. Proportion of injection providers naming hepatitis/jaundice as one of the diseases transmitted by unsafe injection practice was significantly higher in urban (75.6%) than in rural (39.2%) area. However, compared to urban respondents (13.3%), a significantly higher proportion of rural respondents (37.3%) named Hepatitis B specifically as one of the diseases transmitted. Median (inter-quartile range) number of therapeutic injection and injectable vaccine administered per day by the injection providers were 2 (1) and 1 (1), respectively. Two handed recapping by injection providers was significantly higher in urban area (33.3%) than in rural areas (21.6%). Most providers were not aware of the post exposure prophylaxis guideline. CONCLUSION: The knowledge of the injection providers about safe injection practice was acceptable. The use of safe injection practice by providers in urban and rural health care facilities was almost similar. The deficiencies noted in the practice must be addressed.
Entities:
Keywords:
Nepal; health personnel; injection; injection safety; needle stick injury
Authors: A K Azad Chowdhury; Tapash Roy; A B M Faroque; Sitesh C Bachar; Muhammad Asaduzzaman; Nishat Nasrin; Nahid Akter; Hamidur Rahman Gazi; Abul Kalam Lutful Kabir; Masuma Parvin; Claire Anderson Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2011-10-10 Impact factor: 3.295