Injection safety practices among primary health care workers in Ilorin, kwara state of Nigeria

Background: In developing countries the last half of the 20th century saw enormous increases in number of injections with insufficient care for sterile conditions and poor injection safety practices. Aim: The main aim of the study was to assess the injection safety practices among Primary Health care Workers (PHCWs) in Ilorin, Nigeria. Methods and Material: It was a descriptive cross-sectional study carried out among 336 PHCWs in the 3 Local Government Authorities in Ilorin metropolis using multi stage sampling techniques. The Research instruments used were pretested questionnaire and observational checklist. The data generated were analyzed using EPI-INFO software package. Level of significance was predetermined at p-value of less than 0.05. Results: The study showed that though 320 (95.2%), of the respondents used safety boxes for immediate collection of used needles and syringe, 181 (53.9%) of them used burn and burial while 98 (29.2%) respondents, used local incineration for final disposal of used needles. Some of the PHCWs still used unsafe methods like burial 29 (8.6%), open dumping 11 (3.3%) and dumping in any pit 5 (1.5%). It was observed that there was recapping of needle in 26 (86.7%) health facilities after administration of injection. Used needles were also observed outside the safety box in 24 (80%) health facilities while needles were also sighted around the premises of 10 (33.3%) of health facilities visited. Conclusion: It was concluded that there was high unsafe injection practices among PHCWs in Ilorin metropolis and recommended that there is need for training and supportive supervision for the PHCWs by Local government Authorities.

Author(s): Oladimeji Akeem Bolarinwa, Adekunle Ganiyu Salaudeen, Sunday Adedeji Aderibigbe, Omotoso Ibraheem Musa, Tanimola Makanjuola Akande, James Olusegun Bamidele

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