PREVALENCE AND RISK FACTORS FOR PERCUTANEOUS INJURIES, BLOOD AND BODY FLUIDS EXPOSURES AMONG NURSES IN THE TAMALE METROPOLIS

ABSTRACT Exposure to percutaneous injuries and blood/body fluids are serious occupational hazards that contribute to the transmission of a variety of blood borne pathogens. The study was conducted to determine the prevalence and risk factors associated with percutaneous injuries and exposure to patients’ blood and other body fluids among nurses in the Tamale metropolis. A cross-sectional design was adopted for the study. A total population of 572 was targeted with a sample size of 224 nurses obtained for the study. However, analysis was done with a sample size of 215 based on a 96% response rate. The researcher used descriptive and inferential statistics to analyse the data. Results from the study indicate that the prevalence of percutaneous injuries (PIs) and blood/body fluid exposures (BBFEs) in the two hospitals was high (61%). Sex, highest level of education, work experience, availability of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) and having a procedure/protocol for reporting, following standard operational protocols, wearing PPEs, working in haste, engaging in improper disposal and reporting accidental exposures all showed statistically significant association (p≤ .05). In conclusion, the prevalence of PIs and BBFEs among nurses in the two hospitals was high. Also some, personal factors, organizational factors and behavioural factors influenced the occurrence of these exposures among the nurses. Heads of the health facilities in the Tamale Metropolis should therefore sensitize their nurses to understand the risks associated with these injuries and exposures to encourage them to comply with the standard precautions.