Advance Search

Evaluation of needle stick injury management and prevention in Sulaimani city hospitals

Srwa Salih Mohammad
Department of Nursing, Technical College of Health and Medical Technology, Sulaimani Polytechnic University, Iraq.
Blend Barzan Ameen
Department of Family and Community Health Nursing, College of Nursing, University of Raparin, Ranya, Iraq.
Ramand Mohammed Haji
Department of Nursing, Technical College of Health and Medical Technology, Sulaimani Polytechnic University, Iraq.
Seerwan Hama Rashid Ali
Department of Anesthesia, Technical College of Health and Medical Technology, Sulaimani Polytechnic University, Iraq.
Keywords:
Copyright and Licensing:

Copyright (c) 2025 Srwa Salih Mohammad, Blend Barzan Ameen, Ramand Mohammed Haji, Seerwan Hama Rashid Ali (Author)

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Share:
Crossref
Scopus
Google Scholar
Europe PMC

Abstract

Background and objective: Needle stick injuries (NSIs) pose a significant occupational hazard for healthcare workers, leading to risks of bloodborne infections. Despite established prevention and control guidelines, the incidence of needle stick injuries remains high, particularly in developing countries. The study aims to assess needle stick prevention and control management in the governmental and non-governmental hospitals inside Sulaimani city-Iraq.

Method: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted across 18 hospitals (11 governmental and 7 non-governmental) in Sulaimani City from January to March 2023. Using a pre-designed questionnaire, data was collected through structured interviews with infection control units or hospital administrators. Descriptive statistics were used for data analysis.

Result: The data collected showed that most hospitals have infection control units 14 (77.8%) while 4 (22.2%) did not. The majority of hospitals 17 (94.4%) have a needle stick injury prevention program, including 11 (64.7%) governmental and 6 (35.3%) non-governmental hospitals and also most of these hospitals12 (80%) monitor it is application. Regarding training, 11 (68.8%) of governmental and 5 (31.3%) of non-governmental hospitals offer training, making up a total of 16 (88.9%). Finally, for recording incidences, 8 (88.9%) of governmental and 1 (11.1%) of non-governmental hospitals recorded it, with an overall recording rate of 9 (50%). Conversely, 3 (33.3%) of governmental and 6 (66.7%) of non-governmental hospitals do not record these incidences.

Conclusion: The study concluded that while most Sulaimani city hospitals have needle stick prevention programs, governmental hospitals generally implement and monitor them more effectively than non-governmental ones. Key gaps include inconsistent reporting, follow-up practices, and training.

PDF
PDF

Metrics

Metrics Loading ...

References

  1. Romero-Saldaña M. Occupational biological risk in healthcare workers. European Journal Of Occupational Health Nursing. 2024; 3(1):1-4. https://doi.org/10.70324/ejohn.v3i1.38
  2. Balgahoom NTN, Hanifah N, Pou R, Chudri J. Prevalence and Risk Factors for Needle Stick Injuries among Health Workers at Hospitals: A Literature Review. Jurnal Kesehatan Masyarakat Indonesia. 2024; 19(1):11-20. https://doi.org/10.26714/jkmi.19.1.2024.11-20
  3. Abdelmalik MA, Alhowaymel FM, Fadlalmola H, Mohammaed MO, Abbakr I, Alenezi A, et al. Global prevalence of needle stick injuries among nurses: A comprehensive systematic review and meta‐analysis. J Clin Nurs. 2023; 32(17-18):5619-31. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.16661
  4. Mengistu DA, Tolera ST. Prevalence of occupational exposure to needle-stick injury and associated factors among healthcare workers of developing countries: Systematic review. Journal of Occupational Health. 2020; 62(1):e12179. https://doi.org/10.1002/1348-9585.12179
  5. Hosseinipalangi Z, Golmohammadi Z, Ghashghaee A, Ahmadi N, Hosseinifard H, Mejareh ZN, et al. Global, regional and national incidence and causes of needlestick injuries: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal. 2022; 28(3):233-41. https://doi.org/10.26719/emhj.22.031.
  6. Manikandan S, Deepthi R, Nag B, Kumar A, Kumar P, Mathew G, et al. O-95 Study on incidence and sequelae of needle stick injuries among healthcare workers. BMJ Publishing Group Ltd. 2023. https://doi.org/10.1136/OEM-2023-EPICOH.95
  7. Behzadmehr R, Balouchi A, Hesaraki M, Alazmani Noodeh F, Rafiemanesh H, J. Nashwan A, et al. Prevalence and causes of unreported needle stick injuries among health care workers: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Rev Environ Health. 2023; 38(1):111-23. https://doi.org/10.1515/reveh-2021-0148
  8. Aljameeli OM, Alrasheedi NM, Alsuhali AM, Alsuhali SM, Alsuhali DM. Factors Association with Needle Stick Injury: An Overview of Prevention & Management. International Journal of Innovative Research in Medical Science. 2022; 7(12):797-800. https://doi.org/10.23958/ijirms/vol07-i12/1603
  9. Cheetham S, Ngo HT, Liira J, Liira H. Education and training for preventing sharps injuries and splash exposures in healthcare workers. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2021(4). https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD012060.pub2
  10. Ameen BB, Haji RM, Babakr SH. Evaluation of the Implementation of WHO Infection Prevention and Control Core Components Among Health Care Facilities. Kurdistan Journal of Applied Research. 2024; 9(1):14-23. https://doi.org/10.24017/science.2024.1.2
  11. WHO. Minimum requirements for Infection Prevention and control programmes. 2019.(Accessed December 4, 2024, at https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241516945).
  12. Moralejo D, El Dib R, Prata RA, Barretti P, Corrêa I. Improving adherence to Standard Precautions for the control of healthcare-associated infections. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2018(2). https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD010768.pub2
  13. Health TIMo. National guide to infection control in Iraqi health institutions: The Iraqi Ministry of Health; 2009.
  14. Reddy VK, Lavoie MC, Verbeek JH, Pahwa M. Devices for preventing percutaneous exposure injuries caused by needles in healthcare personnel. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2017(11). https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD009740.pub2
  15. Sharma T, Chaudhary A, Singh J. Needle stick injuries and postexposure prophylaxis for hepatitis B infection. Journal of Applied Sciences and Clinical Practice. 2021; 2(1):4-8. https://doi.org/10.4103/jascp.jascp_10_20
How to Cite
Salih Mohammad, S. ., Barzan Ameen, B. ., Mohammed Haji, R. ., & Hama Rashid Ali, S. . (2025). Evaluation of needle stick injury management and prevention in Sulaimani city hospitals. Zanco Journal of Medical Sciences (Zanco J Med Sci), 29(3), 590–599. https://doi.org/10.15218/zjms.2025.064

Send mail to Author

Send Cancel