Occupational Exposure to Blood and Body Fluids among Health Care Workers in Wolaita Zone, Southern Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Occupational exposure to blood and body fluids is a major public health concern; the problem is more severe in poor economic setting. This study examines magnitude of occupational exposure to blood and body fluids and its associated factors among health care workers in Wolaita Zone, Southern Ethiopia.Methods: Institution based cross sectional study was conducted in February 2016. Health care workers (n=760) of various occupations were the study population. A cluster sampling technique was used. Self-administered questionnaire was used to collect the data. Data was entered into EPI info version 3.5.4 and exported into SPSS version 20.0 for analysis. Binary logistic regression model was used to identify factors associated with outcome variable, and finally multivariate logistic regression model was used to identify independent predictors of outcome, with statistical significance set at p<0.050 at 95% CI.Results: sixty six percent of health care workers studied were exposed to blood and body fluids in past one year. Out of total health care workers studied 62% (386) and 53.6% (334) exposed to blood and body fluids and injured by needle stick in the past six months respectively. Occupation (AOR: 1.86; 95%CI: 1.02-3.38), department of work (AOR: 3.92; 95%CI: 1.17-13.11), lack of training on prevention of occupational infection (AOR: 2.02; 95%CI: 1.34-3.04), absence of safety signs in health care institutions (AOR: 1.82; 95%CI: 1.21-2.75) and inadequate hand washing facilities in department/ward (AOR: 1.82; 95%CI: 1.25-2.64) respectively were factors associated with occupational exposure to blood and body fluids.Conclusion: the level of exposure to blood and body fluids among health care workers was high. All relevant stake holders in health need to provide training on prevention of occupational infection to health care workers and ensure enough hand washing facility. Moreover, promote the use of safety signs in health care institutions.