Prevalence and Risk Factors Associated with Needle Sticks and Sharp Injuries among Nurses at the Accident and Emergency Department of Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi-Ghana

Augustine Kumah,Hope Akpeke,Gideon Azi,Etornam Gblende,Hilda Agortimevor,Francis Akakpo

doi:10.3844/ijrnsp.2020.47.53

Abstract

Needle Sticks and Sharps Injuries (NSSI) represent a major occupational hazard in the health care industry, with professional nurses incurring a large proportion of the total burden particularly with items that have been previously used on patients. This study investigated the prevalence and risk factors associated with needle sticks and sharp injuries among nurses at the accident and emergency department of Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi-Ghana. A cross-sectional quantitative descriptive survey was conducted among 113 Nurses at Accident & Emergency department of Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Ghana using a simple random sampling in selecting participants. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data from the participants. The study shown a prevalence of 47% needle stick and sharp injury among nurses with 33.6% of those injuries resulting from needle stick. Majority (25.5%) of the respondents allowed the injury to bleed as an initial intervention measure. Majority (68.1%) reported the incidence of the injury while (31.9%) did not. Majority (33.3%) of them did not report because they did not know who to report to. Work pressure (53.1%) was identified as the major contributing factor for needle stick and sharp injuries. The study shown a prevalence of 47% needle stick and sharp injury among nurses with 33.6% of those injuries resulting from needle stick. Nurses should be trained on safety measures of handling and disposing needles and sharps and should also be encouraged to report NSSIs in other to get the right treatment and counselling.

Highlights

Needle Sticks and Sharps Injuries (NSSIs) are common occupational injuries among health care workers (van der Molen et al, 2011; Kebede et al, 2012)
A cross-sectional quantitative descriptive survey was conducted among 113 Nurses at Accident and Emergency department of Komfo Anokye Teaching
This study shown that needles are the major source of needle stick and sharp injuries among nurses at KATH

Summary

Introduction

Needle Sticks and Sharps Injuries (NSSIs) are common occupational injuries among health care workers (van der Molen et al, 2011; Kebede et al, 2012). Needle sticks and sharps injuries are wound caused by needles and other sharp medical devices that accidentally pierce or cut the skin. Such injuries though small can be dangerous because these sharps and needles have come into contact with blood and other body fluids and they may carry the risk of infections. Health Care Workers (HCWs), including the nurses, doctors, dentist, operating departments, laboratory workers, phlebotomist, cleaners and laundry workers, are at risk of injuries with

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