Made available in DSpace on 2016-03-22T17:26:05Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Luciene_Smiths_Primo.pdf: 231428 bytes, checksum: b56724f430de805565c8a99a26321e9e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008-04-30 / This study investigated the occurrence of accidents with biological material among health care workers at the university hospitals in the city of Pelotas. A survey was carried out among 406 doctors, nurses, technicians or nurses assistants. After signing a document stating their consent, they answered a questionnaire. The prevalence of accidents last year was 18%. Forty percent of these cases were not reported. Doctors presented 76% more risks of having accidents when compared to technicians or nurses assistants (p=0.045). The risk in hospital B was twice higher than hospital A (PR=2,06 CI95% 1,30-3,27; p=0,002). The majority of accidents occurred with percutaneous exposure (60%), fingers being the body part most injured (47%), and the Surgical Center was the place where more accidents were reported (24%). This finding is in accordance with the fact that among the surgeous the prevalence of accidents was 48%. The prevalence of accidents during the professional lifetime was 64%. Thirty six percent of these cases were not reported. The factors related to accidents in the last year were young age, to work in hospital B and to be a medical doctor or nurse. The higher time in the function, not mattering age and hospital, was associated to accidents during the professional experience / Investigou-se a ocorrência de acidentes com material biológico entre profissionais dos Hospitais Universitários de Pelotas. A amostra incluiu 406 médicos, enfermeiros e técnicos e auxiliares de enfermagem que, após consentimento assinado, responderam um questionário aplicado por entrevistador. A prevalência de acidentes no último ano foi de 18%, dos quais 40% não foram notificados. Os médicos apresentaram risco 76% maior de acidentes quando comparados a técnicos e auxiliares de enfermagem (p=0,045). O hospital B apresentou risco duas vezes maior do que o hospital A (RP=2,06 IC95% 1,30-3,27; p=0,002). A maioria dos acidentes ocorreu com materiais pérfuro-cortantes (60%), os dedos foram a parte do corpo mais atingida (47%), o local mais freqüente foi o Centro Cirúrgico (24%), achado consistente com a proporção de acidentes entre cirurgiões (48%). A prevalência de acidentes durante a vida profissional foi de 64%, dos quais 36% não foram notificados. Os fatores associados a acidentes no último ano foram a menor idade, trabalhar no hospital B e ser médico ou enfermeiro, e, para acidentes na vida, o maior tempo de função, independente da idade e do hospital