Occupational exposure to blood and body fluids and their knowledge regarding post exposure prophylaxis among nurses in a tertiary care hospital at national capital of India

Abstract

Background: Nurses are at greater risk of exposure to the blood and body fluids. Blood borne pathogens are transmitted through accidental needle or sharps injury especially during exposure while caring patients with Hepatitis B Virus, Hepatitis C Virus and Human Immunodeficiency Virus [1]. Nurses have a small but significant risk of acquiring HIV by occupational exposure to blood or through others body fluids. In addition, such exposures cause fear and stress among Nurses and their families. Accidental exposure is more frequent when nurses neglect proper personal protective equipment, high workload and high workload so nurses must be knowledgeable about occupational exposure to blood and body fluids and its preventive measures and management [2]. Accidental exposure is more frequent when nurses neglect proper personal protective equipment, high workload and high workload so nurses must be knowledgeable about occupational exposure to blood and body fluids and its preventive measures and management.Methodology: A quantitative research study using cross sectional survey research design after obtaining ethical committee permission. Study was conducted among 279 nurses in Institute of liver and biliary sciences, New Delhi (ILBS) employing total enumeration as sampling technique. The data was collected from the nurses who were working in ILBS. Self-structured Questionnaire regarding occupational exposure to blood and body fluids and knowledge post exposure prophylaxis were distributed individually among nurses after filling participant informed consent form. Validity and Reliability of tool were established. Data was analyzed using appropriate descriptive (mean, frequency and percentage) and inferential statistics (t-test, ANOVA test) under SPSS version 20.Results: More than half the number of nurses who had exposed and who had not exposed to blood and body fluids were in the age group of >30-40 years and majority were female nurses and had GNM as their educational qualification. More than half the number of nurse’s had got exposure occurred during the time of cannulation and the most common reason was shortage of staff and helper. With regard to post exposure knowledge, more than half number of nurses who had exposed had good knowledge whereas nearly half the number of nurses who had not exposed had average knowledge and found to be statistically significant with p value less than