EVALUATION OF NEEDLE STICK INJURY AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG HEALTHCARE WORKERS IN AL NAJAF CITY/ IRAQ

Introduction:In healthcare-related situations, needle sticks represent a substantial work-related health risk. Healthcare professionals face the danger of contracting blood-borne infections as well as the psychological impact of these wounds. The study aimedtoevaluate the prevalence of needle stick injuries and the associated socio-demographic determinants among healthcare workers.Methods: The research employed a cross-sectional design, with data collection occurring from February 1st, 2023 to February 1st, 2024. 380participants were conveniently selected from different Al-Najaf City/Iraq healthcare institutions. The study sample included a variety of specialists, including anesthetics, surgeons, dentists, surgeon assistants, anesthetics assistants, nurses, physicians, and laboratory workers. A self-administered questionnaire from previously published articles was used for data collection. It covers socio-demographic information, a history of previous exposure to, and the reasons for needle stick injuries.Quantitative variables were summarized with means and standard deviations; descriptive statistics for categorical variables included frequencies and percentages. P ≤ 0.05 indicated statistical significance.Results: Most healthcare workers (85%) were previously exposed to needle sticks. Job category was significantly associated with a history of needle stick exposure (p < 0.001). The anesthetics represent the highest job class exposed to needle sticks (100%). More than one-fifth of participants (21.85%) reported recapping needles followed by bending needles in 16.84% of them as a cause of needle stick injuries. Conclusion: Most healthcare workers are exposed to needle stick injuries; job category is an important risk factor