Needlestick and Sharps Injuries among Healthcare Workers
Dwi Prihatiningsih
Universitas Aisyiyah Yogyakarta
Abstract
Health care workers (HCWs) are at high risk of acquiring infections caused by needlestick and sharp injuries. The aim of this study was to examine the incidence and causes of needlestick or sharp injuries among HCWs in a type D hospital at Bantul District. A cross sectional study was conducted on 34 HCWs (nurses, doctors, midwives and medical lab technicians) from 23 to 30 August 2014. Data was collected through self administered questionnaires. Of the total 34 HCWs, 38,20% had needlestick/sharp injuries in the last one year. Nurses were most prone to needlestick and sharp injury among HCWs (54%). Syringe needle were the commonest sourse of HCWs needlestick/sharp object injury at work. The study revealed that a significant amount of needlestick injuries occurs among HCWs and risks of contracting blood-borne infectious diseases as a result are very high.
Keywords: Needlestick injury, Sharp object, Incidence
Topic: International Conference on Nursing