Knowledge and practice of injection safety among healthcare workers in a Nigerian secondary healthcare facility

Authors

  • Salisu Abubakar Bayero University Kano https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4510-1430
  • Ruqayya Hamza Usman Bayero University Kano
  • Abdulrashid Idris Bayero University Kano
  • Ibrahim Muhammad Jigawa State College of Nursing and Midwifery, Birnin Kudu
  • Mahfuz Muhammad Haddad Bayero University Kano
  • Chioma Judith Mba Bayero University Kano

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3396/ijic.v15i1.18367

Abstract

Injection safety is important in today’s healthcare delivery particularly in settings with a high burden of blood-borne viruses. A safe injection protects the patient, the healthcare worker and the community from avoidable infections. In Nigeria, the national policy on injection safety and healthcare waste management were developed in 2007. The development of the policy was followed by series of training on safe injection and behavioural change. Despite this, high burden of unsafe injections was reported in many parts of the country. This study assessed the level of knowledge and practice of injection safety among healthcare workers in a secondary healthcare facility in north-western Nigeria. The study targeted all the healthcare workers employed in the hospital. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to all the available healthcare workers. A total of 80/88 questionnaires were returned and analysed. Majority of the respondents were male in their early career who were within the age range of 31-40years. The results showed that 88.75% of the healthcare workers correctly described injection safety as defined by the WHO. However, only 18.75% and 40.0% had good knowledge of risks associated with, and diseases that can be transmitted through unsafe injections respectively. In addition, only 25.0% reported safe injection practices. Reuse of syringe was reported by 37.50% of the respondents and over 88% recap used needles. Majority of the healthcare workers reported a previous history of needlestick injury which was not associated with their professional cadre p-value = 0.146. Despite injection safety training, inadequate knowledge with poor injection practice was found among the surveyed healthcare workers. The reuse of syringes and needles underscores the need for adequate and safe injection commodities at all levels of healthcare delivery. Keywords: healthcare workers, injection safety, knowledge, practice

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Author Biographies

Salisu Abubakar, Bayero University Kano

Department of Nursing Science

Ruqayya Hamza Usman, Bayero University Kano

Department of Nursing Science

Abdulrashid Idris, Bayero University Kano

Department of Nursing Science

Mahfuz Muhammad Haddad, Bayero University Kano

Department of Nursing Science

Chioma Judith Mba, Bayero University Kano

Department of Nursing Science

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Published

2019-01-04

How to Cite

Abubakar, S., Usman, R. H., Idris, A., Muhammad, I., Haddad, M. M., & Mba, C. J. (2019). Knowledge and practice of injection safety among healthcare workers in a Nigerian secondary healthcare facility. International Journal of Infection Control, 15(1). https://doi.org/10.3396/ijic.v15i1.18367

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Section

Original Articles