title: Knowledge of occupational exposure to HIV: a cross sectional study of healthcare workers in Tumbi and Dodoma hospitals, Tanzania.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Insufficient knowledge on blood-borne pathogens has been identified as a factor that influences occupational exposure to needle stick and sharps injuries. The objective of this study was to assess healthcare workers' knowledge on occupational exposure to HIV.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross sectional survey was conducted at Tumbi designated regional hospital and Dodoma regional hospital, Tanzania in February 2012. A self-administered questionnaire was used to capture information on knowledge of occupational exposure to HIV infection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 401 healthcare workers responded to a self-administered questionnaire. High proportion of healthcare workers (96.3%) understood that they are at risk of occupational exposure to HIV. The majority of healthcare workers trained on post exposure prophylaxis procedure and use of personal protective equipment were clinicians (87.1% and 71.4% respectively) and nurses (81.8% and 74.6% respectively). Over a quarter of the healthcare workers were not aware of whom to contact in the event of occupational exposure. One third of healthcare workers did not have comprehensive knowledge on causes of occupational HIV transmission and did not know when post exposure prophylaxis is indicated. Healthcare workers not trained on the use of person protective equipment were less likely to have comprehensive knowledge on occupational exposure to HIV (OR = 0.5; 95% CI 0.3 - 0.9). Knowledge on causes of occupational exposure varied with the cadre of healthcare workers. Nurses were more likely to have comprehensive knowledge on occupational exposure to HIV than non-clinical staff (OR = 2.6; 95% CI 1.5 - 4.5).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A substantial proportion of studied healthcare workers had little knowledge on occupational exposure to HIV and was not aware of a contact person in the event of occupational exposure to HIV. Training on post exposure prophylaxis and infection prevention and control including the use of person protective equipment provided to nurses and clinicians should be extended to other clinical and non-clinical hospital staff.
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Medical Research, P.O. Box 9653, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. kmashoto@nimr.or.tz.
authors.forename: Kijakazi Obed
authors.initials: KO
authors.lastname: Mashoto
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Medical Research, P.O. Box 9653, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. gmubyazi@nimr.or.tz.
authors.forename: Godfrey Martin
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Mubyazi
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Medical Research, P.O. Box 9653, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. adiel.mushi@gmail.com.|Tanzania National Health Research Forum, P.O. Box 9653, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. adiel.mushi@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Adiel K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Mushi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017848:Blood-Borne Pathogens; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016602:Needlestick Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D010564:Personnel, Hospital / Q000523:psychology*; D056990:Post-Exposure Prophylaxis; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013636:Tanzania