Prevalence and associated factors of needle stick and sharps injuries among healthcare workers in northwestern Ethiopia.
Zemene BerhanAsmamaw MaledeAdinew GizeyatuTadesse SisayMistir LingerewHelmut KloosMengesha DagneMesfin GebrehiwotGebremariam KetemaKassahun BogaleBetelhiem EneyewSeada HassenTarikuwa NatnaelMohammed YenussLeykun BerhanuMasresha AbebeGete BerihunBirhanu WagayeKebede FarisAwoke KelebAyechew AdemasAkalu Melketsadik WoldeyohanesAlelgne FelekeTilaye Matebe YayehMuluken Genetu ChaneAmare MucheReta DewauZinabu FentawWolde Melese AyeleWondwosen MebratuBezawit AdaneTesfaye Birhane TegegneElsabeth AddisuMastewal ArefaynieBezawit AdaneYitayish DamtieBereket KefaleZinet Abegaz AsfawAtsedemariam AndualemBelachew TegegneEmaway BelayMetadel AdanePublished in: PloS one (2021)
This study showed that almost one-third of HCWs had sustained NSSIs, a proportion that is high. Factors significantly associated with NSSIs were occupation as a nurse, habit of needle recapping, disposal of sharp materials in places other than in safety boxes and feeling sleepy at work. Observing proper and regular universal precautions for nurses during daily clinical activities and providing safety boxes for the disposal of sharp materials, practicing mechanical needle recapping and preventing sleepiness by reducing work overload among HCWs may reduce the incidence of NSSIs.