| dc.description.abstract |
Health care professionals (HCPs) are at high risk of contracting blood-borne infections due to
their occupational exposure to blood and body fluids. The incidence of these infections among
HCPs are higher in low income countries such as Ethiopia. The aim of the study was to
investigate the extent of occupational exposure to BBFs and its associated factors among HCPs
in Arada Sub city, Addis Ababa Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study was used from November 3,
2014 to December 19, 2014. Three hundred and sixty-one health care professionals were
included in the study using a simple random sampling technique. The data were collected using
a structured questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS version 20. Bivariate and multivariate
analyses were used to identify the factors related to exposure to BBFs. One hundred and forty
nine (41.3%) health care professionals were exposed to BBFs in the past year. Profession
(Nurse) 0.76 [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 0.5, 95% confidence interval (Cl) 0.26-0.98], Shortage
of personal protective equipment in the Past Year 1.99 (AOR 1.86, 95% Cl 1.11-3.11), Lack
life time training on infection prevention 8.18(AOR 7.08, 95% Cl 3.57-14.03) and not Using
Personal protective equipment 2.19 (AOR 2.25,95% Cl 1.3 -3.89) were the factors associated
with occupational exposure to BBFs. A high proportion of health care professionals was
exposed to BBFs in this study. Occupational exposure to blood and body fluids was determined
by the use of gloves and not act in accordance with standard precautions. Ensuring the
availability of gloves, training about standard precautions, and motivation of health care
professionals to implement standard precautions should be emphasized to avoid such exposures.
............................................ Thesis available at ACIPH Library |
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