| dc.description.abstract | Introduction: Work-related injuries present a major public health problem resulting in serious social and economic consequences that could be prevented if appropriate measures are taken and they remain a major public health issue in MNRH and in Uganda at large. The study was thus carried out to determine the prevalence and factors associated with percutaneous injuries and splash exposure among laboratory workers in MNRH, Kampala District.
Materials and Methods: The study was a descriptive cross sectional study conducted between April to September 2014, and employed both qualitative and quantitative data collection methods. Frequency distribution tables, histograms, Descriptive, bivariate and multivariate analysis were used in data analysis.
Study participants: The participants for the study were laboratory workers, other cadres who frequent the laboratories and laboratory students who were present at the time of the study, and were purposefully selected by simple random sampling and fish and bowl method (n=96).
Results: A total of 96 respondents were interviewed where 58 were males (60.4%) while 38 were females (39.6%). 62.5% of respondents had either sustained percutaneous injuries or splash exposures, while 37.5% of the respondents had never sustained percutaneous injuries and splash exposure; splash exposure with patients’ body fluids was frequently reported. The prevalence of percutaneous injuries or splash exposure varied significantly among males (p= 0.001, OR= 5.2 and p=0.172, OR=4.4) respectively, laboratory students (p-value=0.002, OR=5.8 and p-value=0.01, OR=4.8) respectively, and being from another cadre (nurses, theatre attendants and doctors), (p= 0.012, OR= 2.8 and p-value= 0.007, OR=3.6) respectively. 86.5% of the respondents reported that there was no reporting protocol in their laboratories in case someone sustained percutaneous injuries and splash exposures. Most workers were vaccinated 14against hepatitis B virus (77.1%), although vaccine coverage was poor among laboratory cleaners (25%) and washing with tap water or alcohol (68%) as the main Post exposure management used. Multivariate analysis results confirmed that percutaneous injuries and splash exposure with patients’ body fluids were dependent on nurses, doctors and theatre attendants (p- value=0.004, OR=16.8, 95%=1.9-12.1) and ( p- value=0.01, OR=3.1, 95%=1.3-9.1) respectively. While Reporting to authorities (p<0.0001, OR=11.4, 95%CI=1.8-5.6) and having MSDS in place (p=0.004, OR=18.6, 95%CI=0.2-2.7, were protective or reduced the risk of injuries and splash exposure with patients’ body fluids.
Conclusion and recommendation: A high prevalence of percutaneous injuries and splash exposure with patients’ body fluids in Mulago National Referral Hospital was noted. There was poor reporting for injuries and splash exposures in MNRH clinical laboratories because of lack of a reporting protocol for work related injuries in the hospital. There is therefore need to come up with clear guidelines and procedures for reporting percutaneous injuries and splash exposures and increase in awareness through training and conducting safety meetings with workers. | en_US |
