Occupational risk exposure to HIV among nurses at a mission hospital in Ghana: A descriptive cross-sectional study

Nurses have been clinically involved in HIV/AIDS since the start of the epidemic. Before anti-retroviral therapy was available, nurses mobilised in various cities to care for patients in hospital units and community settings. Due to their multiple contributions to the care and management of patients infected with HIV, they are exposed to multiple risks while performing their duties. However, little is known on the rate of exposure to HIV infections among nurses in Ghana. Thus, this study aimed to ascertain the prevalence of occupational risk exposure to HIV among nurses, determine the medium of the exposures and the immediate measures taken following exposure to a suspected source. A cross-sectional descriptive study design was conducted among registered nurses at Seventh Day Adventist Hospital, Asamang, Ashanti Region from February to March 2021. An all- inclusive sampling approach was used to invite 235 participants who satisfied the inclusion criteria and were willing to participate. Two hundred and thirty participants completed a self-administered structured questionnaire. Data was analyzed with SPSS version 20. Fifty-six percent (56%) of the nurses have been exposed to HIV at the time of the study. Needle stick injury (60.8%) was the most common mechanism for exposure. The cannular (57.85%) represented the commonest type of needle and setting up an intravenous line (IV cannulation) (33.59%) and dealing with uncooperative patients (23.44%) were the commonest procedure through which an exposure occurred. The measures taken immediately after exposure were washing the affected part under running water (97.39%), identifying the source person and their status, and reporting to the immediate supervisor or the appropriate body (90.8%). Majority adhered to the right practices of universal precaution. Injection safety was the least practiced precaution (54.9%). Of the 56% exposed to HIV sources, 61% took Post Exposure Prophylaxis and 39% did not. The prevalence of occupational risk exposure to HIV was high and was mostly through needle stick injury. The high proportion of the nurses who recapped needles after use indicate the need for interventions that focuses on the provision of resources for sustained training on safe handling and disposable of needles.