Injection practices among practitioners in private medical clinics of Karachi, Pakistan

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the frequency and determinants of sharps injuries among private health practitioners in slum areas of Karachi, Pakistan. All practitioners with at least 1 year of experience in a private medical clinic were asked to complete a self-administered, structured questionnaire (317/397 responded). Only 7.9% of practitioners were qualified from medical school, 12.3% were registered nurses and 8.8% lacked any professional qualifications. At least 1 sharps injury in the previous 12 months was reported by 26.7%, mostly due to needle recapping. Only 25.2% reported using a new syringe for each patient. In multivariate regression analysis shorter work experience, < 14 years of schooling, > 20 patients per day, administering ≥ 30 injections per day, reuse of syringes and needle recapping after use were significantly associated with sharps injury in the past year. Better awareness and training on standard precautions is needed for private practitioners in slum areas of Karachi. Sciences, Baqai Medical University, Karachi, Pakistan (Correspondence to M.T. Yousafzai: m.tahir.yousafzai@gmail.com 1 Faculty of Health Pratiques d'injection chez les praticiens des établissements médicaux privés à Karachi (Pakistan)RÉSUMÉ L'objectif de la présente étude était de déterminer la fréquence et les déterminants des blessures par objets piquants ou tranchants chez les praticiens de santé privés dans les bidonvilles de Karachi (Pakistan). Tous les praticiens ayant au moins un an d'expérience dans un établissement médical privé ont été sollicités pour remplir un auto-questionnaire structuré (317/397 ont répondu). Seuls 7,9 % des praticiens étaient diplômés d'une école de médecine ; 12,3 % avaient le diplôme d'infirmier tandis que 8,8 % ne possédaient aucune qualification professionnelle. Ils étaient 26,7 % à déclarer avoir été blessés au moins une fois par un objet piquant ou tranchant au cours des 12 derniers mois, principalement à cause d'un recapuchonnage d'aiguille. Seuls 25,2 % ont affirmé utiliser une nouvelle seringue pour chaque patient. À l'analyse de régression multivariée, une expérience plus courte, une scolarité inférieure à 14 années, le fait d'avoir plus de 20 patients par jour, l'administration d'au moins 30 injections par jour, la réutilisation des seringues et le recapuchonnage des aiguilles après utilisation étaient fortement associés aux blessures par objets piquants ou tranchants au cours de l'année écoulée. Il est nécessaire que les praticiens privés des bidonvilles de Karachi soient davantage sensibilisés et mieux formés aux précautions standard.‫املتوسط‬ ‫لرشق‬ ‫الصحية‬ ‫املجلة‬ ‫عرش‬ ‫التاسع‬ ‫املجلد‬ ‫السادس‬ ‫العدد‬ 571

Needle stick injuries and awareness towards post exposure prophylaxis for HIV among private general practitioners of Davangere city

“…18 In the present study 47% had needle stick injury only once which is higher than the study conducted by yousafzai et al (26.7%) and lower than study conducted by fullerton et al (75.6%). 16,19 In the present study 42% had 2-5 times in the last one year and which is lower than study conducted by fullerton et al (21.9%). 16 In the present study most of the participants had NSI while recapping the needle and similar finding was observed in the study conducted by Yousafzai et al and bayappa reddy N et al 17,19 In the present study the most common factor influenced NSI was hasty work and similar finding was observed in the study conducted by Bayappa Reddy N et al 17 In our study all private practitioners had heard of HIV post exposure prophylaxis (PEP) and almost similar finding was observed by Patricia A et al (98%).…”

“…16,19 In the present study 42% had 2-5 times in the last one year and which is lower than study conducted by fullerton et al (21.9%). 16 In the present study most of the participants had NSI while recapping the needle and similar finding was observed in the study conducted by Yousafzai et al and bayappa reddy N et al 17,19 In the present study the most common factor influenced NSI was hasty work and similar finding was observed in the study conducted by Bayappa Reddy N et al 17 In our study all private practitioners had heard of HIV post exposure prophylaxis (PEP) and almost similar finding was observed by Patricia A et al (98%). 18 Our study observation is higher than the other studies conducted by C Ooi et al (68%) and Biniam Mathewos et al (48%).…”

Safe injection procedures, injection practices, and needlestick injuries among health care workers in operating rooms

“…21 On the other hand, a study conducted in Pakistan, found that 74.8% of HCWs administered injections with used syringes. 22 The current study showed that 41.9% of HCWs cleaned their hands with alcohol based hand rub before preparing an injection, 53% cleaned the patient's skin before the injection with an antiseptic, and protective gloves were used in 41.9% of observed injections. Similar findings was reported by Ain-Shams study, (44.2%, 30.9%, and 20.4% respectively).…”

Hepatitis B Vaccination among Primary Health Care Workers in Northwest Pakistan

“…In addition, high prevalence of HBV infections among the general population, lack of infection control activities, under-resourced health care system, and poor injection practices without any safety measures at first level care facilities in Pakistan further augment the risk of nosocomial transmission of HBV to HCWs. (10) The prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positivity among Pakistani HCWs working at tertiary care hospitals has been studied by various authors. (11)(12)(13) The vaccination status of Pakistani primary HCWs has however not been studied before.…”