Abstract:
Abstract
Background
Health care professionals (HCWs) are at high risk of contracting blood-borne infections
due to their occupational exposure to blood and body fluids (BBFs). The incidences of
these infections among HCWs are higher in low income countries such as Ethiopia. The
aim of the study was to assess the extent of occupational exposure to BBFs and its
associated factors among HCWs in Gondar town, Ethiopia.
Methods
A cross-sectional study design was conducted from March 21 up to April 14. Two
hundred eighty six study participants were included in the study using a stratified simple
random sampling technique. The data was collected using a pre-tested structured self
administered questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS version 20. Bivariate logistic
regression and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to identify the factors
related to exposure to BBFs.
Objective- to assess the prevalence of occupational exposure to BBFs and associated
factors among HCWS in Gondar town health care institution.
Results
A total of 241 (87%) study participants had been exposed to BBFs in their lifetime. In
the past year, 181 (65.3%) participants had been exposed to BBFs and 141(50.9%) of
participants had been exposed to BBFs in the past 6 months. In bivariate logistic
regression analysis those HCWs who had chewing chat occasionally 11.065 (AOR
11.065, 95% CI1.480-82.739) and times more likely to be occupationally exposed to
BBFs than those who had not chewing chat.
