Evolution of the Global Use of Unsafe Medical Injections, 2000–2010

Abstract

ObjectiveSince 1999, substantial efforts have been made by the international community to reduce the risks associated with unsafe injections, through ministries of health, international donors, the World Health Organization and the Safe Injection Global Network. The present study attempted to measure the progress, or lack thereof, made over the 2000–2010 decade in reducing unsafe injections in ten regions of the world corresponding to developing and transitional economies.MethodsData about the number of injections per person per year and the proportion of re-use of syringes and needles were obtained for 2010, mainly from population surveys, and compared with previous estimates for 2000 which had used various sources of information including injection safety assessments, population surveys and published studies on injection practices.ResultsFrom 2000 to 2010, in developing countries and transitional economies, the average number of injections per person per year decreased from 3.40 to 2.88, while the proportion of re-use of injection devices dropped from 39.8% to 5.5%. Combining both factors the number of unsafe injections per person per year decreased from 1.35 to 0.16. Even if substantial progress has been made, the Eastern Mediterranean region remains problematic, with 0.57 unsafe injections per person per year. In sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America, people now receive on average only 0.04–0.05 unsafe injections per year.ConclusionSubstantial progress has been made in reducing the number of unsafe injections in developing countries and transitional economies, essentially through a reduction in the re-use of injection devices. In some regions, elimination of unsafe injections might become a reasonable goal.

Medical Waste Management: An Assessment at District-Level Public Health Facilities in Bangladesh

“…If improperly treated and re-used, these equipment may cause life-threatening diseases, including hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV/AIDS. On an average, 2.88 injections are received by an individual per year in developing and transitional countries like Bangladesh, of which 5.5% are administered with a re-used syringe [25]. Several years ago, a black market of these infected items was discovered in Gujarat of India, which eventually claimed more than 50 lives [26].…”

Injection practices in 2011-2015: A rapid review using data from the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS)

“…The and countries. 10,11 However, it also pointed to the absence of improvement in reducing the frequency of analgesics, vitamins or anti-histamines in the desire to meet user demand. 15,16 Reducing injection overuse would only be a matter of promoting rational use of medicines if injections were administered safely.…”

“…Meanwhile, the frequency of use of injection to administer medications had not decreased. 10 Overuse and unsafe use of injections still led to transmission of bloodborne pathogens, although less so than in 2000.…”

Hypertension and Isolated Office Hypertension in HIV-Infected Patients Determined by Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring: Prevalence and Risk Factors

“…The unsafe and risk practices include: reuse of injection equipment to administer to more than one client, use of multiple dose vials without changing used needles, reuse of syringes barrels or syringes barrels with needles, re use of injection equipment without sterilization and inadequate waste management (Hunter, 2013;Pepin et al, 2013). Incorrect practice exposes patients to harm and infectious diseases either directly, through contaminated needle and syringes or indirectly through medication vials that are contaminated with infectious blood or wrong medication and technical performance causing disability (WHO, 2015; Pepin et al, 2013).…”