The Prevalence and Underreporting of Needlestick Injuries among Dental Healthcare Workers in Pakistan: A Systematic Review.

Mehak Pervaiz,Nasreen Ali,Ruth Gilbert

doi:10.1155/2018/9609038

Abstract

Needlestick injuries (NSIs) are a major occupational health problem among dental healthcare workers (HCWs) in Pakistan, which places them at a significant risk of acquiring blood-borne infections. However, not all NSIs are reported, leading to an underestimation of the actual prevalence. The harmful impacts of NSIs on the healthcare delivery necessitate an urgent need to measure its actual prevalence. Objectives. The aim of this study was to review literature to estimate the prevalence and reporting rates of NSIs among dental-HCWs in Pakistan. Methods. 713 potentially relevant citations were identified by electronic databases and hand searching of articles. Nine primary studies were subsequently identified to be included in the review. Results. The results of the included studies indicate that the prevalence of NSIs among Pakistani dental-HCWs was between 30% and 73%. The rate of reporting of NSIs was between 15% and 76%, and the most common reason was found to be the lack of awareness regarding the reporting system, or of the need to report NSIs. Conclusion. It is evident from the review of the included studies that there is a significantly high prevalence and a low rate of reporting of NSIs among dental-HCWs in Pakistan, suggesting the need to setup an occupational health department in dental settings, for preventing, managing, recording, and monitoring NSIs.

Highlights

An estimated two million healthcare workers (HCWs) experience a needlestick injury (NSI) each year [1] putting them at risk of infectious diseases such as hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) [2, 3]
Aim and Objectives e aim of this paper is to review the existing literature to determine the prevalence and rate of reporting of NSIs among dental-HCWs in Pakistan
The prevalence of NSIs among dental-HCWs in Pakistan was found to be high, ranging from 30% [39] to 73% [38]. e findings were consistent with previous studies from other low- and middle-income countries, including ailand, Colombia, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Romania, Nigeria, Jordan, and China [13, 22, 45,46,47,48,49,50]. ey confirmed that dental-HCWs in Pakistan were more likely to experience an NSI than dental-HCWs in developed countries

Summary

Introduction

An estimated two million healthcare workers (HCWs) experience a needlestick injury (NSI) each year [1] putting them at risk of infectious diseases such as hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) [2, 3]. More than a third of hepatitis B and hepatitis C cases and approximately 5% of HIV cases result from an NSI [1] despite evidence to show effective infection control policies that can successfully prevent HBV seroconversion and minimise rates of HCV and HIV seroconversion following an NSI [4]. E existing evidence base highlights that dental-HCWs appear to be at high risk of NSIs [15,16,17]. Rates amongst dental-HCWs have fallen in developed countries, in many low- and middle-income countries, vaccine coverage rates remain low and awareness of postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) is poor [13, 14]. e existing evidence base highlights that dental-HCWs appear to be at high risk of NSIs [15,16,17]. is is mainly due to the use of sharp dental instruments often for multiple injections in the mouth where access and visibility can be poor [9, 18,19,20]

Results

Discussion

Conclusion