title: Occupational exposure to HIV: a conflict situation for health workers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the frequency of occupational exposure to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the circumstances and predisposing factors, the high-risk groups, the extent to which exposures are reported and the post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) utilized by health-care workers (HCWs) and students in a Ugandan hospital.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Occupational exposure to HIV is a low but potential risk of HIV infection to health workers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Self-administered questionnaire was given to 224 participants (including 98 HCWs and 126 students) in Mbarara Hospital, Uganda. Data were analysed with descriptive statistics using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 15.0 (SPSS Inc, Chicago, IL, USA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 224 participants surveyed, 19.2% reported having sustained injection needle stick injuries in the previous year, of which 4.46% occurred with HIV-infected blood. Other reported injuries were cannula needle stick injury (0.89%), suture needle stick injuries (3.13%), scalpel cut injuries (0.45%) and muco-cutaneous contamination (10.27%). The most affected groups were nurses-midwives for scalpel injuries and students for stick injuries. The predisposing factors reported included lack of protective devices and recapping of needles. Exposures were under-reported. Uptake of PEP was also low.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Occupational exposure to HIV presents a conflict situation for HCWs. It remains a frequent occurrence particularly among student nurses-midwives, despite being avoidable. Its prophylactic treatment is hampered by poor reporting and investigation of exposures, and poor access to PEP. Strict adherence to universal precaution and proper handling of occupational exposure to HIV should be encouraged.
authors.affiliation: Nursing Department, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara, Uganda. kumakeche@yahoo.com
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kumakech
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Achora
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Berggren
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bajunirwe
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D017758:Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D008880:Midwifery / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009726:Nurses / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D056990:Post-Exposure Prophylaxis; D014454:Uganda; D016635:Universal Precautions; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents