NEEDLE STICK INJURY AND HEPATITIS B VIRUS VACCINATION STATUS OF MEDICAL STAFF IN TERTIARY CARE
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Abstract
Background: One of the major public health concerns nowadays is Hepatitis B virus (HBV). According to research, there are about 360M people who are either diagnosed with chronic liver infection or at risk of getting this infection. Studies that were conducted in South Asian countries revealed that hepatitis B virus has a prevalence of 8%. Around 11M individuals are infected with HBV in Pakistan. Globally, approximately 36% of healthcare workers (HCWs) are infected with this virus through their work. In low-income and middle-income countries, about 50% of hepatitis B virus in HCWs occur because they are in contact with body fluids, infected blood, or contaminated medical tools.
Objective: To identify how many healthcare workers in the hospitals are vaccinated and which group of HCWs is most at risk of HBV infection and needle stick injuries
Study design: A descriptive, cross-sectional study
Duration and place of study: this study was conducted in Ghulam Muhammad Mahar Medical College Sukkur from March 2024 to March 2025
Methodology: This study is a descriptive and cross-sectional analysis which was performed in different hospitals. In order to collect data, a structured questionnaire was used which was taken from previous literature. The components of the questionnaire include vaccination status against HBV, socio demographics, exposure of needle stick injury, and other associated factors. The participants of this study include medical professionals, janitorial staff, and paramedics. Total participants of this study were about 200. All the participants were those healthcare workers who joined hospital duty one year back. The data was analysed using SPSS version 26 where the frequencies of different demographic variables were calculated. Adjusted odds ratios (AOR) and crude odds ratios (COR) were also calculated.
Results: Total participants of this study were about 200. The participants of this study include medical professionals, janitorial staff, and paramedics. The majority of the participants were males (n=114). Most of the participants were among the age group of 30 to 40 years old, representing 51% of the total participants. 76% of the total participants did not receive HBV vaccination. Only 48 participants received HBV vaccination out of which 68.75% were doctors and 31.25% were paramedics.
Conclusion: In conclusion, HBV vaccination coverage is very low in healthcare workers. A high percentage of HCWs suffer from multiple or single time needle stick injuries.
References
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Hidayatullah Memon
Hidayatullah Memon, Lecturer Pathology, Ghulam Muhammad Mahar Medical College Sukkur, SMBBMU Larkana Pakistan.
Saifullah
Saifullah, Assistant Professor Medicine, Mekran medical college Turbat Balochistan Pakistan.
Gotam Kumar Jeswani
Gotam Kumar Jeswani, Associate Professor Community Medicine, Peoples University of Medical and Health Sciences University Nawabshah Pakistan.
Mustafa Aatif
Mustafa Aatif, Final Year Student, Royal college of Surgeons in Ireland, Bahrain Campus.
Muhammad Nouman
Muhammad Nouman, Associate Professor Medicine, Indus Medical College Tando Muhammad Khan Pakistan.
Ruqia Jamali
Ruqia Jamali, Senior Medical Officer, Social Security Hospital Hyderabad Pakistan.