SMU Medical Journal

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Global attention is being drawn to medical waste with much attention to Needle Stick Injuries (NSI) as it poses health workers at risk of infection. A cross sectional descriptive study involving 170 Hospital workers (Health workers and support staff) in a Nigerian tertiary Hospital using a structured questionnaire was conducted. Of the 70 Health workers sampled comprising Doctors, Nurses, and laboratory Scientists, 30%(21/70) were found to have had NSI, of the 100 support staff sampled comprising ward attendants, cleaners, waste handlers, incinerator operators, and cleaning supervisors, 47%(47/100) were found to have had NSI. Occupation of respondents was found to have significant effect on the occurrence of NSI among the Hospital's support staff at p < 0.05. This study revealed a high percentage of NSI among Hospital workers in the chosen Hospital of study. Training on medical waste management with much emphasis on NSI was recommended.

Keywords

Health Workers, Support Staff, Medical Waste, Infection, Nigeria.
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