Knowledge and Attitudes Regarding Medical Sharps Handling Among Healthcare Workers in Namibia: A Contemporary Analysis
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Background: Healthcare workers face significant occupational risks from needlestick and sharps injuries, which can lead to transmission of blood-borne pathogens, including HIV, HBV, and HCV. Understanding knowledge levels and attitudes toward sharps handling is essential for developing effective prevention strategies. The objective of this study was to evaluate the knowledge and attitudes regarding the handling of medical sharps among healthcare workers at Intermediate Hospital Oshakati, Namibia.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2020 using purposive sampling. A sample of 490 healthcare workers (134 doctors and 356 nurses) completed a self-administered questionnaire. Data were analysed using EPINFO 7.2 and SPSS version 25. Crude and adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals were calculated comparing doctors and nurses, adjusting for age, marital status, gender, and education level.
Results: Medical doctors demonstrated significant knowledge gaps compared with nurses. Doctors were more likely to believe that sharps injuries may result in HCV transmission (AOR = 2.23, 95% CI: 1.24-3.99) or not know about HCV transmission (AOR = 3.94, 95% CI: 1.19-13.05). Regarding CDC recommendations, doctors were more likely to disagree (AOR = 2.11, 95% CI: 1.11-4.01) or not know (AOR = 2.57, 95% CI: 1.61-4.09) that "milking out" blood after a sharps injury is not recommended. Doctors were also less likely to know that the affected area should be rinsed with soap and water (AOR = 0.14, 95% CI: 0.04-0.48). For sharps injury reporting, doctors were more likely to cite ignorance of reporting procedures (AOR = 2.05, 95% CI: 1.27-3.30) and fear of confidentiality (AOR = 2.00, 95% CI: 1.27-3.15) as reasons for not reporting.
Conclusion: Limited knowledge and suboptimal attitudes toward medical sharps handling were evident, particularly among doctors. There is an urgent need for targeted educational interventions, clear reporting protocols, and improved awareness of post-exposure management guidelines.
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