OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE TO BLOOD AND BODY FLUIDS AMONG CLEANING PERSONNEL: PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT COMPLIANCE AND PREVENTION GAPS IN A UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL

Cleaning personnel in hospitals are at high risk for occupational exposure to blood and body fluids, yet remain an understudied group. This study aimed to evaluate the frequency of blood and body fluid exposure, personal protective equipment compliance, and prevention gaps among hospital cleaning staff. A cross-sectional study was conducted at a university hospital between June and August 2023. A census approach was used, including all 251 cleaning personnel; 224 participated (89.2% response rate). Data were collected through a structured data form administered during face-to-face interviews, assessing sociodemographic characteristics, occupational exposures, use of personal protective equipment, and training history. The mean age of participants was 42.3±6.7 years, 66.5% were female, and 53.1% were primary school graduates. A lifetime history of occupational exposure to blood and body fluids was reported by 40.2% of staff. Although reporting rates to occupational health were high (96.7%), critical gaps in personal protective equipment were identified during medical waste handling, a task performed by 86.2% of staff. Compliance was notably low for heavy-duty gloves (8.3%), protective glasses (19.7%), and boots (6.7%), despite universal attendance at training sessions. While 83.9% had initiated Hepatitis B vaccination, the full completion rate was only 42.5%, and significant knowledge gaps regarding immunization schedules were evident. A substantial disparity was found between near-universal training attendance and consistently low compliance with essential personal protective equipment during high-risk tasks, such as handling medical waste. This indicates systemic safety failures rather than individual negligence. To protect this vulnerable workforce, institutions should implement enforced personal protective equipment protocols, conduct accessibility audits, and foster a culture of safety accountability.