Injection Safety Awareness and Knowledge in a Rural Population

Abstract

Background: About 16 billion injections are administered each year in developing and transitional countries,most of these are unnecessary and unsafe. Unsafe injection practices including the reuse of needles and syringesare a common public health problem in many countries and contribute to an estimated 40% hepatitis C, 32%hepatitis B and 5% human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections each year.The present study was undertaken with two fold objectives to determine the average number of injections perperson per year and to assess the level of knowledge and attitudes in relation to injections in a rural population ofIndia.Methodology: A community based cross sectional study was conducted in village located near Nagpur, India.Every alternate house was selected by systematic random sampling. Total 403 houses were served. Any memberof the family above 18 yrs of the age and who is residing in the area for more than 6 months and present at thetime of visit was interviewed.Statistical Analysis: The data was analyzed using Epi info version 3.4.1 software. Chi-square test was used astest of significance and p value of less than 0.05 was considered as significantResults: A total of 403 families were interviewed. There were 1,109 person-visits to the health care providers inthe last 3 months and they received 472 injections, which came out to be 0.23 injection/person/three months. Inchildren below 5 years, 70% of injections were preventive. In 82% of injection use, disposable syringes wereused. About 91 % of the respondents were aware about the transmission of some diseases through unclean syringes.More than two-thirds of respondents 69% preferred oral medications to injections.Conclusion: Interventions are needed to improve the safety of injections. These include the introduction ofinjection devices that prevent reuse, behavioral modification of providers, increasing awareness in the populationof risks associated with injection, creating consumer avoidance of injections and demand for safety.