184732 Prevalence and risk factors for needle stick injuries in India: IndiaCLEN Program Evaluation Network (IPEN) study

Sunday, October 26, 2008

Narendra K. Arora, MD, MPH , Executive Director, International Clinical Epidemiology Network (INCLEN), New Delhi, India
Sunil Kumar Agarwal, MBBS , Epidemiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC
Ravindra M. Pandey, MSc, MPH , Biostatistics, All India Intitute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
On behalf of IPEN team , International Clinical Epidemiology Network (INCLEN), New Delhi, India
Introduction: Needle stick injury (NSI) is an important professional hazard and exposes health care providers to blood borne infection.

Methods: Population based cluster sampling of health care providers (public and private) across India; 17844 injection procedures were observed. Sampling weights were used to calculate national estimates based on 2001 population census.

Results: NSI can be observed during 2.4 percent (95% CI 1.8-2.9) of the injections given in India. NSI were similar in the rural [2.5%: 95% CI 1.9-3.1] and urban areas [1.9%: 95% CI 1.3-2.6]. The proportion of NSI was highest in the immunization sector [4.2%: 95% CI 3.4-5.0] followed by the private sector [2.4%: 95% CI 1.8-3.1].

In a multivariate logistic regression analysis (Odds Ratio;95% CI), use of detachable disposable needles [4.1 (1.9-9.2)], glass syringes [6.0 (3.9-9.0), private health facility [1.7 (1.0-2.7)] and immunization clinics [2.8 (1.8-4.4)] were independent and statistically significant risk factors for needle stick injuries, as compared to use of fixed needles, plastic syringes, and public health care facilities, respectively. Recapping was an important risk factor, while using detachable disposable needles.

Conclusion: Despite Hawthorne effect, needle stick injury is a common occupational hazard that needs to be addressed in the context of about 3-6 billion injections administered in India each year.

Learning Objectives:
1. Evaluated the burden of needle stick injury at a national level in India. 2. Identify the risk factors associated with needle stick injury.

Keywords: Health Care Workers, Injury Risk

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have a medical graduation in India. I was involved in all the phases of this study. I am currently pursuing my doctoral training in Epidemiology at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Further, I have experience of presenting a poster in Scientific sessions.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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