Occupational Exposure, Risk Perception and Access to Prophylaxis for HIV/AIDS Infection among Health Care Workers in Northern Nigeria
O. E. Amoran *
Department of Community Medicine and Primary Care, College of Health Sciences, Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Introduction: This study was designed to describe occupational exposure, risk perception and access to prophylaxis for HIV/AIDS among the health care workers in Northern Nigeria.
Methods: This study is an analytical cross-sectional study. Multistage sampling technique was used to obtain a representative sample and a structured self-administered questionnaire was used to collect relevant information.
Results: A total of 421 health care workers were interviewed, 5.2% reported per-cutaneous exposure to HIV infected blood or body fluids in the workplace in the last 6 months. Predictors of risk perception were working in public facilities [OR=2.28, C.I=1.26-4.15], male gender [OR=3.42, C.I=1.59-7.36] and training on infection control [OR=1.94, C.I=1.13-3.34]. Significantly more males [OR=2.33, C.I=1.12-4.94], those in public facilities [OR=5.85, C.I=1.97-19.48], urban facilities [OR=24.99, C.I=3.67-491.82] and those in tertiary facilities [[OR=17.96, C.I=6.04-59.99] reported a greater access to prophylaxis medication.
Conclusion: The study concludes that male health care workers that are young, working in public facilities and have insufficient knowledge about HIV/AIDS have a high risk perception for HIV/AIDS while those in urban and public facilities especially tertiary facilities reported a ready access to prophylaxis medication. Uneven distribution of medication and other health care resources in Northern Nigeria and similar populations may contribute to increased casualty among the health care workers.
Keywords: HIV/AIDS infection, health care workers, occupational exposure, access to prophylaxis, risk perception, Northern Nigeria