[Occupational risk for blood exposure and staff behaviour: a cross-sectional study in 3 Moroccan healthcare centers].
OBJECTIVE
As in other countries, Moroccan health-care workers are exposed to occupational blood exposure (OBE) hazards. The purpose of this study was to estimate the occupational safety and hygiene conditions determining the OBE risk for health-care workers. WORKERS AND METHODS: In March 2000, a multicentric study was carried out in Morocco on 420 health-care workers, with an anonymous questionnaire. The study included health-care workers in the Taza and Temara hospitals and health centers, as well as in a Rabat public medical analysis laboratory.


RESULTS
The participation rate was 67.8% (285/420). The population was mainly female (61%) with a mean age of 41.4 years (+/-7 years). Health-care workers answered that: occupational hygiene and safety were inadequate (55.1%); wearing single-use gloves was rare (34.5%); resheathing used needles was frequent (74.5%); safe containers were often missing (67%). In 1999, the annual average incidence of OBE was 1.5 (+/-4.3) per capita. If we consider the whole career of health-care workers, the incidence reached about 14.3+/-28.1 per capita. The absence of post-exposure chemoprophylaxis was the rule.


CONCLUSIONS
The study shows that there is a need to improve occupational hygiene and safety conditions for Moroccan health-care workers in order to reduce OBE hazards.
Djeriri
K
K
Service santé-travail-environnement, CHU de Clermont-Ferrand, Place Henri-Dunant, 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France. djeriri@wanadoo.fr
Charof
R
R
Laurichesse
H
H
Fontana
L
L
El Aouad
R
R
Merle
J L
JL
Catilina
P
P
Beytout
J
J
Chamoux
A
A
D000328:Adult; D001769:Blood; D017848:Blood-Borne Pathogens; D003264:Containment of Biohazards / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D017575:Gloves, Protective / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006786:Hospitals, Urban / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D006920:Hygiene / Q000592:standards; D007753:Laboratories / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D017056:Medical Laboratory Personnel; D017744:Medical Waste Disposal / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009018:Morocco; D016602:Needlestick Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D016272:Occupational Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010564:Personnel, Hospital / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D017744:Medical Waste Disposal