Occupational risk factors contributing to injury by medical sharps among health workers at Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya

Purpose: Healthcare workers are at risk of medical sharps injuries, which according to the Kenya national policy on injection safety, 58% of healthcare workers have suffered these injuries. This study was conducted with the aim of establishing occupational risk factors contributing to injury by medical sharps among healthcare workers at Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya. Design/ Methodology/Approach: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted between July and December 2010. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to 320 respondents from different job cadres of healthcare workers at the hospital who were selected proportionate to the sample frame. A checklist was used to observe medical sharps wastes management practices at the hospital. Findings: The study findings suggest that 44% of respondents were involved in medical sharps injury at the hospital. The majority of the injured respondents (91%) experienced medical sharps injuries between 1-2 times, while a few of the respondents (5%) experienced medical sharps injuries 3- 4 times within the past year. Sixty-two per cent of injured respondents suffered moderate injuries which were characterized by skin puncture and some bleeding, while 33% of respondents suffered superficial injuries which were without any bleeding and 5% of respondents experienced severe injuries which were characterized by profuse bleeding. Contribution to policy and practice: the study is of importance to the management of Kenyatta hospital, and the government. It will help the hospital's management in managing its human resources and also aid in addressing the myriad challenges facing the health sector.