Background: Accidental exposure to patients’ body fluids (BFs) is an occupational hazard among health care workers (HCWs). The study aimed at describing the patterns of exposure to patients’ BFs among HCWs at a university hospital in Ethiopia. Methods: A contextual descriptive cross-sectional design was used for this study. Self-administered questionnaires were used to collect data. Results: The one year and professional life prevalence of occupational exposure to patients’ BFs among HCWs was 33.5% and 66.5% respectively. Circumstances that led to participants’ exposures to patients’ BFs include needle stick injuries to fingers and splashes to the eyes (82.4%); conducting procedures included blood withdrawal (10.8%) and inserting intravenous infusions (8.1%) and recapping of used needles (12.2%). Conclusion: Findings of this study generally indicated that occupational exposures to patients’ BF of different types and circumstances were common among all categories of HCWs in the study site. This high finding of BF exposure should not be over looked. HCWs should follow the universal precaution protocol and PEP need to be strengthened / Health Studies / M.A. (Public Health)

Submitted by Ana Lúcia Torres (bfmhuap@gmail.com) on 2017-10-11T23:31:02Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Dissertação Sandra Filgueiras.pdf: 1364431 bytes, checksum: 26f4173fa85082110bd2e613ca6dc31a (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Ana Lúcia Torres (bfmhuap@gmail.com) on 2017-10-11T23:31:22Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Dissertação Sandra Filgueiras.pdf: 1364431 bytes, checksum: 26f4173fa85082110bd2e613ca6dc31a (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-10-11T23:31:22Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Dissertação Sandra Filgueiras.pdf: 1364431 bytes, checksum: 26f4173fa85082110bd2e613ca6dc31a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015 / Secretaria de Estado de Saúde e Defesa Civil do Rio de Janeiro. Gerência de DST/Aids e Hepatites Virais / O surgimento de novos métodos preventivos eficazes revigora a prevenção da infecção pelo HIV e potencializa a atenção a diversas situações de vulnerabilidade e risco que as pessoas vivenciam. Todavia, a apropriação destes avanços tecnológicos em benefício da população exige exame e reflexão crítica sobre as práticas de saúde, a gestão dos serviços e a organização dos processos de trabalho na rede de saúde. Esta pesquisa é um estudo de caso realizado em um serviço público de saúde do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, com objetivo de analisar os modos de aplicação da Profilaxia Pós-Exposição Sexual (PEP sexual), visando à identificação de fatores associados às limitações e possibilidades de “sucesso prático” desta estratégia, como dispositivo de cuidado na prevenção do HIV. Foram utilizados métodos qualitativos e adotada uma perspectiva analítica das ciências sociais, humanas e da saúde. O princípio da integralidade, em suas dimensões ligadas às práticas de saúde e organização do processo de trabalho (Mattos, 2004), foi utilizado como parâmetro para a análise do material. Os dados foram organizados em três eixos de análise: percepção de risco, cuidado e processo de trabalho. Também foram observados aspectos relacionados à intersubjetividade produzida na relação entre profissionais e usuários, à construção do cuidado integral, ao estímulo à autonomia dos sujeitos usuários e respeito aos direitos humanos. Os resultados demonstram que os espaços de intersubjetividade circunscritos pela busca /indicação da PEP sexual são atravessados por distintas lógicas de risco, segundo “usuários” e “profissionais” de saúde, por padrões morais discriminatórios, por um modelo de atenção médico centrado e prescritivo. Também indicaram ausência de uma gestão democrática na organização dos processos de trabalho para incorporação da nova tecnologia na rotina do serviço, e falta de espaços de integração e capacitação dos trabalhadores no desenvolvimento desta estratégia. Estes fatores configuram a forma de atenção predominante no serviço. Ocorreram também, ainda que em menor frequência, situações em que a racionalidade da práxis predominou sobre a racionalidade tecnológica, e o atendimento às demandas de PEP sexual se transformou em cuidado integral. O estudo nos forneceu elementos para a reflexão crítica sobre o que pode nos afastar e nos aproximar do “sucesso prático” (Ayres, 2009) da PEP sexual na prevenção do HIV / The emergence of new effective preventive methods strengthens the prevention of HIV infection and enhances attention to diverse situations of vulnerability and risk that people experience. However, the utilization of these technological advances for the benefit of the population requires analysis and critical reflection concerning health practices, service management and organization of work processes in the health system. This research is a case study of a public health service of the State of Rio de Janeiro, with the aim to examine the ways of application of the Sexual Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (sexual PEP), to identify factors associated with the limitations and possibilities of the "practical success" of this strategy as a care device in HIV prevention. Qualitative methods were used and an analytical perspective of social sciences, humanities and health was adopted. The principle of integrality with its dimensions related to health practices and organization of work processes (Mattos, 2004), was used as a parameter for analysis of the material. The data were organized into three analytical groups: risk perception, care and work process. Furthermore, the aspects related to intersubjectivity developed in the relationship between professionals and users were also observed, as well as the construction of integral care, the stimulus to the autonomy of the users and the respect for human rights. The results show that the intersubjectivity spaces circumscribed by the search / display sexual PEP are crossed by distinct logic of risk, according to "users" and " health professionals", by discriminatory moral standards and by a centered and prescriptive medical attention model. They also indicate the absence of democratic management in the organization of work processes that incorporate new technology into service routine, and the lack of opportunities for integration and training of workers in developing this strategy. These factors constitute the predominant form of attention in the service. There were also, situations occurred, although less frequently, where the practical rationality predominated over the technological one, and attending the demands of sexual PEP turned into integral care. The study provided elements for critical reflection about what can move us away or bring us near the "practical success" (Ayres, 2009) sexual PEP for HIV prevention

As the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) prevalence rises, uninfected Basotho face an increased risk of exposure. This necessitates strengthening of strategies that prevent exposure, and where exposure has occurred, measures that prevent infection. One such measure is Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP). Awareness and knowledge of HIV PEP is therefore of paramount importance. The purpose of this study was to assess knowledge, attitudes and utilisation of HIV PEP among adults in Roma, Lesotho. A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted among 96 adult outpatients at St Joseph’s Hospital. Data were collected by means of structured questionnaire and analysed using SPSS version 23.0. Results were presented using charts and tables. Awareness of HIV PEP among the respondents was found to be very low and for most respondents’ knowledge of HIV PEP was either non-existent or very poor. Utilisation was also found to be very low. Attitudes towards HIV PEP were, however, found to be favourable. More studies should be conducted throughout the country to further explore Basotho’s knowledge, attitude and use of HIV PEP. / Health Studies / M.A. (Nursing Science)