Work Related Injuries among Hospital Workers in Iringa, Tanzania

Work Related Injuries among Hospital Workers in Iringa, Tanzania 2013

Godbless Lucas – FELTP Tanzania AFENET Conference 17-22 November 2013

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Introduction [1/2] • Work related injury (WRI) - self reported injuries experienced by a healthcare worker 12 months prior to the study • WRI expose hospital workers to diseases - HIV/AIDS, HBV, HCV infections • WRI should be identified and controlled – at the source- Eliminate unsafe procedures – at the path- Procedures, training, supervision – at a person- Personal protective equipments, procedures 2

Introduction [2/2] • Globally, injury from sharps – 37% of HBV infections; 39% of HCV infections; 4.4% of HIV infections • Study of HCWs exposed to blood from HIV infected patients [1] – 80% had needle stick injury; 8% from sharp object; 7% from contaminated mucus membrane. • Tanzania: WRIs accounted for 52.9% [2] • Study was done to determine the prevalence of WRI after various interventions been introduced in Tanzania in 2006

1. Marcus et al 2. Manyele et al.2008

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Objectives 1. To determine prevalence of work related injuries among hospital workers.

2. To identify form of injuries suffered by hospital workers based on nature of injuries, and working conditions.

3. To identify factors for occurrence of work related injuries among workers in their specific work environments. 4

Methods • Study design - Cross-sectional study

• HCW at risk of injury - eligible for the study • HCW who never come into contact with patients or byproducts from patients care were excluded • Sample size - 300 hospital workers (Kish and Lisle formula - 1965) • Study sample derived from 4 hospitals in Iringa region 5

Methods • Selection of study subjects - simple random sampling

• Self administered questionnaires - Interview study subjects • Data analysis – Epi info & SPSS software • Chi square test – Statistical significance • Multivariate logistic regression - Control for

confounding • Alpha - 5% level 6

Description of Study Participants Variable Sex

Category Male female

Age (Years)

Education Cadre

Frequency 99 159

Percent 38.4 61.1

< 28 28 - 35 > 35 Primary/secondary

73 92 93 112

28.3 35.8 36.0 43.4

Post Secondary Medical officer Nurse officer

146 26 155

56.6 10.0 60.1

Dental personnel

11

4.3

Laboratory personnel

15

5.8

Medical Attendants

51

19.8

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Results • Response rate – 86%, 258 study participants – 27.9% had encountered an episode of injury – 65.1% had access to health and safety guidelines – 29.7 % had attended training on health and safety – No significant difference in injury experience between the cadres of HCWs; X2(5) = 9.27; P= 0.09

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Type of Injury 14.3

4.2

Before use of device

After use of item

23.6

Device left in an inappropriate place

During use of device

Burn from chemical

Cut by Sharps

% 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 Needle stick

Description of Injury among Study Participants 72.2 51.4

22.9 11.4

Mode of Injury 9

Factors Influencing Occurrence of Injuries Variable

*AOR

95% CI Lower Limit

Guidelines

Safety training

Waste containers color coded

Length of shift

Has no access

1.00

Has access

0.52

Never Attended

1.00

Attended

0.41

No

1.00

Yes

0.61

> 8 hours

1.00