en |
Safe injections and waste management among healthcare workers at a regional hospital in northern Tanzania
NILSSON, JOSEFINE; PEMBE, ANDREA B.; URASA, MIRIAM & DARJ, ELISABETH
Abstract
Unsafe injections and substandard waste management are public health issues exposing
healthcare workers and the community to the risk of infections. The objective of this study was to assess
the knowledge and practice of safe injections and health care waste management among healthcare
workers at a regional hospital in northern Tanzania. This cross sectional descriptive study was conducted in
a regional hospital in northern Tanzania. Data was collected through a self-administered questionnaire with
additional observations of the incinerator, injections, waste practices, and the availability of medical
supplies. Data was analysed in SPSS descriptive statistics and chi-square tests were performed. A total of
223 of 305 (73%) healthcare workers from different cadres were included in the study. The majority of
healthcare workers had adequate knowledge and practice of safe injections, but inadequate knowledge
about waste management. The majority of the staff reported knowledge of HIV as a risk factor, however,
had less knowledge about other blood-borne infections. Guidelines and posters on post exposure
prophylaxes and waste management were present at the hospital, however, the incinerator had no fence
or temperature gauge. In conclusion, healthcare workers reported good knowledge and practice of
injections, and high knowledge of HIV transmission routes. However, the hospital is in need of a well
functioning incinerator and healthcare workers require sufficient medical supplies. There was a need for
continual training about health care waste management and avoidance of blood-borne pathogens that
may be transmitted through unsafe injections or poor health care waste management.
Keywords
Safe injections; waste management; occupational risks; healthcare workers; HIV; Tanzania
|