Iran Occupational Health

Background and aims: One of the most important and preventable hazard related to Healthcare Workers (HCWs) are Needle Stick Injuries (NSI). Biologic outcomes of these injuries can be so hazardous and can cause to transmission of disease such as AIDS, Hepatitis B and C. The aim of this study was determination of occupational exposure to needle stick and its risk factors in one of Sabzevar’s hospital.
Methods: This is a cross sectional study on HCWs that by the help of related questionnaire, rate and characteristics of exposure of healthcare personnel was determined. Sampling method was in form of consensus and finally collected data with the help of STATA software and using descriptive and chi-square test were analyzed.
Result: Occupational exposure to needle stick among participated HCWs with at least one injury in 12 months before study was close to 32.99%. Among the different variables that might have influenced on the needle stick injuries only training, education level and work experience had significant relationship. (p= 0.001, 0.009,0.009). About organizational factors, the result showed there is a good guideline for reporting injuries and about 79% of employees said they are familiar with how to report. In the case of cause of needle stick injuries, carelessness and high work load pressure were the most frequent respectively.(40.68, 38.98).
Conclusion: regarding to high rate of needle stick injurie, its  a very serious threat for health care workers to suffer from infectious diseases.detailed inspection in order to achieve to hidden causes and providing control solution for hazardous factors can help managers in improving the level of health and safety in health care system.