Prevalence of Needle Stick and Sharp Injuries Among Surgical Specialist Hospital-Cardiac Center in Erbil City: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Introduction: Needle-stick and sharp injuries (NSSI) pose a serious problem and a major risk of work-related transmitted diseases among healthcare workers. The extent of NSI in the Kurdistan region / Iraq hospitals has been unknown. The factors related to NSIs among healthcare workers were evaluated in the present study. The main purpose of this study is to determine the prevalence of NSI and its associated factors among the respondents.

Material and Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted on 150 randomly selected healthcare staff with a working experience of at least 1 year in the hospital. The study location is a surgical specialist hospital-cardiac center, situated in Erbil/Iraq. The self-administered questionnaire was used to collect information on socio-demographic, employment and individual characteristics, as well as data on NSSI, suffered in the past 12 months.

Results: The majority of participants (34%) were in the 30 to 35year age group. Most were male (60.7%), married (61.3%), have at least degree qualification (89%). The prevalence of NSSI was 67%. Needle stick was the main frequent of NSSRs (66%). Needle recap was all the time done among health workers 104 (69%), they almost use both hands for recap 136 (91%). Education, working environment satisfaction, sleeping quality of the health staff have been considered the main indicators of NSSI.

Conclusion: The rate of NSSI was considered high in this study compared to the rates in many developing countries. Arrangement schedules for work and sleeping of staff could decrease the NSSI rate.