Occupational exposure to the risk of HIV infection among health care workers in Mwanza Region, United Republic of Tanzania

• Published in: Bulletin of the World Health Organization Vol. 75; no. 2; pp. 133 - 140
• Main Authors: GUMODOKA, B, FAVOT, I, BEREGE, Z. A, DOLMANS, W. M. V
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Genève Organisation mondiale de la santé 01.01.1997; World Health Organization
• Subjects: Acquired immune deficiency syndrome; AIDS; Biological and medical sciences; Blood-Borne Pathogens; Condoms; Disease transmission; Health care; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Health participants; Health Personnel - statistics & numerical data; HIV; HIV infection; HIV Infections - prevention & control; HIV Infections - transmission; Hospitals; Human immunodeficiency virus; Humans; Immune system; Industrialized nations; Infections; Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional; Injuries; Interviews; Knowledge; Laboratories; Medical personnel; Medical sciences; Midwifery; Needlestick Injuries - complications; Nursing; Occupational Exposure - statistics & numerical data; Patients; Perceptions; Protective Devices; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Questionnaires; Risk Factors; Surgeons; Tanzania; Vagina; Work-related injuries; Workers; Africa; Tanzania; Tanzania, Mwanza; Human; Immunopathology; Health staff; Sting; Hospital environment; AIDS; Protection safety equipment; Occupational exposure; Immune deficiency; Infection; Prevention; Work safety; Infectious risk; Viral disease; Safety clothing; Behavior; Hygiene; Occupational medicine; Public health; Evaluation; Eastern Africa; Risk Assessment; Health; Occupational Health; Risk Factors; Africa; Tanzania; Viral Diseases; Biology; Hiv Infections > transmission; Delivery Of Health Care; English Speaking Africa; Diseases; Health Facilities; Hospitals; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Health Personnel; Research Report; Developing Countries; Africa South Of The Sahara
• ISSN: 0042-9686; 1564-0604

During 1993, we collected data on knowledge of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission, availability of equipment, protective practices and the occurrence of prick and splash incidents in nine hospitals in the Mwanza Region in the north-west of the United Republic of Tanzania. Such incidents were common, with the average health worker being pricked five times and being splashed nine times per year. The annual occupational risk of HIV transmission was estimated at 0.27% for health workers. Among surgeons, the risk was 0.7% (i.e. more than twice as high) if no special protective measures were taken. Health workers' knowledge and personal protective practices must therefore be improved and the supply of protective equipment supported. Reduction of occupational risk of HIV infection among health workers should be an integral part of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) control strategies.