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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Ngoyi KZ Bukonda, PhD, MPH, Public Health and Health Education Programs, Northern Illinois University, School of Allied Health Professions, DeKalb, IL 60115, 815-753-4801, nbukonda@niu.edu, Ntumba G. Disashi, PhD, MD, Unite de Recherche et de Formation sur le Controle des Infections Nosocomiales et Amelioration de la Qualite des Services, Universite de Mbuji Mayi, Faculte de Medecine, P.O. Box 225, Eastern Kasai Province, Mbuji Mayi, Congo-Kinshasa, Mukonu B. Alain Kabeya, MD, Unite de Recherche et de Formation sur le Controle des Infections Nosocomiales et Amelioration de la Qualite des Services, University of Mbuji Mayi, Faculte de Medecine, P. O. Box 225, Eastern Kasai Province, Mbuji Mayi, Congo-Kinshasa, Crispin Lumbala Wa Mbuyi, MD, Health Zone of Ngandajika, Ngandajia Reference Hospital, Ngandajika, Congo-Kinshasa, Audry Mulumba Wa Kamba, Eastern Kasai Provinca, Provincial Medical Office, c/o Hopital Jean Baptiste Kansela, Mbuji Mayi, Congo-Kinshasa, and A. Wa Mpoyi Katako Kazadi, MD, MPH, Health Zone of Dibindi, Presbyterian Hospital, P.O. Box 225, Mbuji Mayi, Congo-Kinshasa.

Stringent guidelines for safe medical injections (SMIs) have been formulated to reduce needle stick injuries (NSIs) and HIV transmission. Little is known about the level of compliance with these norms. Also unknown is the extent of NSIs and participation in HIV infection control continuing education programs (HICCEPs) in Africa where medical injections prevail as one of the most preferred treatment modalities. Our study explores the extent of and the association between NSIs and participation in HICCEPs programs among physicians and nurses in four health zones in the Eastern Kasai province. Respondents provided, among other things, personal data on demography, participation in HICCE, and frequency of NSIs. About 12% of nurses and 6.3% of physicians acknowledge using single-use needles more than once. About 43% of physicians and 29% of nurses had not participated in any HICCEP in the last three years. The average number of HICCEPs attended during the same period was respectively 1.0 (N= 14 and S.D. = 1.1) for medical doctors and 2.06 (N= 114 and S.D. = 3.2) for nurses. About 46% of physicians experienced at least one NSI as compared to 38% of nurses. No association exists between access to HICCEPs and experience of NSIs. NSIs are more prevalent among physicians than among nurses. HICCEPs are rare commodities for a large number of physicians and nurses. As currently provided, HICCEPs are of questionable effectiveness in the protection against NSIs.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to

• Explain the patterns of participation in nosocomial HIV infection control CE programs (NICCEPs) of physicaisn and nurses in the Eastern Kasai Province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC);
• Differentiate medical doctors and nurses in terms of exposure to needle stick injuries; and
• Explain the relationship between the frequency of needle stick injuries and participation in NICCEPs among physicaisn and nurses in the Eastern Kasai province (DRC).

Keywords: HIV/AIDS, Occupational Exposure

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered