Scarcity of healthcare worker protection in eight low- and middle-income countries: surgery and the risk of HIV and other bloodborne pathogens.
OBJECTIVE
In view of the substantial incidence of bloodborne diseases and risk to surgical healthcare workers in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), we evaluated the availability of eye protection, aprons, sterile gloves, sterilizers and suction pumps.


METHODS
Review of studies using the WHO Tool for the Situational Analysis of Access to Emergency and Essential Surgical Care.


RESULTS
Eight papers documented data from 164 hospitals: Afghanistan (17), Gambia (18), Ghana (17), Liberia (16), Mongolia (44), Sierra Leone (12), Solomon Islands (9) and Sri Lanka (31). No country had a 100% supply of any item. Eye protection was available in only one hospital in Sri Lanka (4%) and most abundant in Liberia (56%). The availability of sterile gloves ranged from 24% in Afghanistan to 94% in Ghana.


CONCLUSIONS
Substantial deficiencies of basic protective supplies exist in low- and middle-income countries.
Surgeons OverSeas (SOS), New York, NY 10003, USA.
Jeffrey J
JJ
Leow
Reinou S
RS
Groen
Jin Yung
JY
Bae
Charles A
CA
Adisa
T Peter
TP
Kingham
Adam L
AL
Kushner
D000349:Africa; D001208:Asia; D017848:Blood-Borne Pathogens; D003906:Developing Countries; D005135:Eye Protective Devices / Q000600:supply & distribution; D013502:General Surgery; D005932:Gloves, Surgical / Q000600:supply & distribution; D006678:HIV; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology* / Q000635:transmission; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D007239:Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology* / Q000635:transmission; D017758:Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008542:Melanesia; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D011482:Protective Devices / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D012307:Risk Factors; D017751:Safety Management / Q000592:standards*