Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Public Health and Surveillance
Date Submitted: Aug 8, 2019
Date Accepted: Feb 12, 2020
Occupational exposure to needle stick injuries and hepatitis B vaccination coverage among clinical laboratories staff, Sana’a Capital, Yemen: a cross sectional study
ABSTRACT
Background:
Laboratories staff (LS) handling blood or biological samples are at risk for accidental injury or exposure to blood-borne pathogens. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccination of LS can minimize these risks. T
Objective:
he aims of this study was to determine the prevalence of occupational exposure to needle stick injuries (NSI) and assess hepatitis B vaccination coverage among clinical laboratories staff in Sana’a, Yemen.
Methods:
A cross-sectional survey was conducted among clinical LS who were involved in handling and processing laboratories’ samples at the main public and private clinical laboratories at Sana’a Capital. Data collection was done using a semi-structured questionnaire. The questionnaire was divided into 3 parts. Part 1 included information on socio-demographic characteristics of participants. Part 2 included information on the availability of the personal protective equipment in the laboratories such as lab coats and gloves. Part 3 included questions about the history of injury during work in the laboratory and the vaccination status for HBV.
Results:
A total of 219 (60%) had been accidentally injured while working in the laboratory (Table 3). Of those, 15% had been injured during the last three months preceding the data collection. Only receiving biosafety manual was significantly associated with lower risk of injury. Out of those who were injured, 55% had received first aid. About three quarters of respondents reported that they had been vaccinated against HBV. The vaccination against HBV was significantly higher among laboratory staff who were working at private laboratories, had postgraduate degree, who have experience > 10 years and who received the biosafety manual.
Conclusions:
Occupational exposure to NSI is still a major problem among laboratory staff in public and private laboratories in Sana’a capital, Yemen. The high incidence of injuries among laboratory staff and the poor receiving first aid in laboratories together with low vaccination coverage indicate that all laboratory staff are at risk of exposure to HBV. Therefore, strengthening supervision, legalizations of HBV vaccination for all laboratory staff in, and optimal laboratory staff in practices regarding the management of sharps can minimize risks and prerequisites in Yemen.
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