Needle Stick or Sharp Injuries &amp; Associated Factors Among Medical Students at Debre Tabor University

Eleni Girma Woldearegay,Biniam Ewnte Zelelew

doi:10.11648/j.ajcem.20210903.13

Abstract

Background: Medical students throughout the world show a high rate of sharp injuries with a consequent risk of acquiring blood-borne infections while performing their clinical activities. Objective: This study was conducted to assess needle stick or sharp injuries among medical students of Debre Tabor University, and to identify the associated factors leading to Needlestick or sharp injury. Method: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 4th to 6th-year medical students at Debre Tabor University, by using census sampling through a self-administered semi-structured questionnaire, and the completeness of the questionnaires was assessed daily. Data were processed and analyzed using SPSS software version 21.0 and bivariate analysis was obtained using a logistic regression model. In addition, tables and figures were used as necessary to represent the data. Result and conclusion: According to our study, the prevalence of Needle stick or sharp injuries among medical students in clinical years other than clerkship I students in Debre Tabor University was found to be 28.5%. Medical interns were particularly affected with a prevalence rate of 66.6%. The associated factors with Needlestick or sharp injuries included the academic year of study and the department where the injury occurred.

Highlights

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, USA defines “Needlestick injuries as injuries caused by needles such as Hypodermic needles, Blood collection Needles, Intravenous (IV) stylets, and Needles used to connect parts of an IV delivery system” [1]
The present study revealed that most of the needlestick and sharps injuries (NSSIs) (73%) occurred in the department of Surgery followed by the department of gynecology and obstetrics which is comparable with a study done in Palestine (10)
Multivariate analysis results in this study reveal the risk of developing NSSIs for medical interns were 4 times higher than C II students (AOR 4.2) which is comparable to a study in Palestine which states the relationship between education level and NSSIs were statistically significant (p-value

Summary

Introduction

Medical students throughout the world show a high rate of sharp injuries with a consequent risk of acquiring bloodborne infections while performing their clinical activities [1, 3]. Medical students throughout the world show a high rate of sharp injuries with a consequent risk of acquiring blood-borne infections while performing their clinical activities. Objective: This study was conducted to assess needle stick or sharp injuries among medical students of Debre Tabor University, and to identify the associated factors leading to Needlestick or sharp injury. Result and conclusion: According to our study, the prevalence of Needle stick or sharp injuries among medical students in clinical years other than clerkship I students in Debre Tabor University was found to be 28.5%.

Objectives

Methods

Findings

Conclusion