title: Prevalence of percutaneous injuries and associated factors among health care workers in Hawassa referral and adare District hospitals, Hawassa, Ethiopia, January 2014.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Accidental percutaneous injury and acquiring blood-borne diseases are common problems among health care workers (HCWs). However, little is known about the prevalence and associated factors for needle stick injury among HCWs in Ethiopia.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross sectional study was conducted by including 526 HCWs (physicians, nurses, laboratory technicians, midwives and others), working in two public hospitals (Hawassa Referral and Adare District hospitals), from January 1-30, 2014. Binary logistic regression was done to assess the association of selected independent variables with accidental percutaneous injury.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of at least one episode of percutaneous injury was about 46% of which more than half (28%) occurred within one year prior to the study period and only 24% took prophylaxis for human immune deficiency virus (HIV) infection. The adjusted logistic regression analysis revealed that HCWs who recap needles were twice as likely to face a percutaneous injury. Chance of exposure to needle stick or sharp injuries also increased with increase in educational status. Having a previous history of needle stick or sharp injury was found as one of the risk factors for the occurrence of another injury. Nurses and cleaners were also at increased risk for the occurrence of percutaneous injuries.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Needle stick and sharp injuries were common among HCWs in the study hospitals, which warrants training on preventive methods.
authors.affiliation: Health management information system, Hawassa University, P.O. Box: 1560, Hawassa, Ethiopia. k.gudeta@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Gudeta
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kaweti
authors.affiliation: School of public and environmental health, Hawassa University, Hawassa, Ethiopia. teferiabegaz@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Teferi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Abegaz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005002:Ethiopia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission*; D006282:Health Personnel; D006779:Hospitals, Public; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016602:Needlestick Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D015995:Prevalence; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012307:Risk Factors; D017751:Safety Management; D012867:Skin / Q000293:injuries*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult