Your Cart

• Log in

• Related Products
• Parent
  • • The International Journal of Environmental, Cultural, Economic and Social Sustainability
• Associated
  • • An Interdisciplinary Knowledge Transfer Approach to Facilitate Sustainable Development
  • • Ecosystem Functions and Services and Sustainable Livelihood of the Wetlands Communities
  • • CEDAW and the Women’s Law in Malaysia
  • • Investigation on the Drivers and the Barriers for Travel Behaviour Changes and the Analysis of the Impact
  • • The Impact of Urban Parks and Green Spaces on Citizens’ Health and Quality of Life
  • • Heritage Tourism
  • • Factors Contributing to Needle Prick Injuries among Nursing Students of a Medical University in South Africa
  • • Primary Culture of Freshwater Prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) in an Integrated Hydroponics Nutrient Film Technique System (NFT)
  • • Design for Sustainable Architecture and Environments
  • • Corporate Social Responsibility

Factors Contributing to Needle Prick Injuries among Nursing Students of a Medical University in South Africa: A Quantitative Survey

By Lindiwe I. Zungu.

Published by The International Journal of Environmental, Cultural, Economic and Social Sustainability

Globally, it is estimated that about 3 million healthcare workers experience needle prick injuries (NPI)which predispose them to blood-borne pathogens. Nursing students are also at risk of such injuries during clinical practice. The study aimed to identify and describe factors that contribut to NPI among the nursing students from a medical university in South Africa. A cross-sectional quantitative survey was conducted using a pre-tested questionnaire. Factors studied included those related to nursing procedures, peronal factors, equipment, competency and institutional factors. Respondents were expected to rate the level of risk associated with each factor described. A total of 96 respondents participated, with average age of 23.4 years, minimum being 18 and maximum of 35 years. Females constituted 80.2 % of the sample compared to 19.8% for males. 80 (83%) respondents rated needle recapping and cleaning of sharps instruments contaminated with blood as of extremely high risk to the occurrence of NPI. The majority rated the disposal of used needles as of a high risk to NPI. Under personal factors, negligence and ignorance were rated as high risk factors by 75% and 73% of the respondents respectively. Fatigue and anxiety were also rated as carrying a high risk of NPI as respectively declared by 39% and 72% of the respondents. 73% of the participants rated the lack of appropriate equipments and 70% rated the poor quality of gloves as contributory factors to NPI. Non-adherence to universla procedures was rated by most students (58%)as significantly related to the occurrence of NPI (p=0.005). The findings of this study pointed out the various factors that contribute to needle prick injuries among nursing students. It also highlighted the fact that the risk of acquiring blood borne infections through needle prick injuries is alarming and adoption of universal precautions as essential measures is crucial in preventing and educating nursing students about the risk of such injuries.

The International Journal of Environmental, Cultural, Economic and Social Sustainability, Volume 4, Issue 4, pp.25-30. Article: Print (Spiral Bound). Article: Electronic (PDF File; 559.081KB).

Dr. Lindiwe I. Zungu

Lecturer, School of Public Health, Department of Environmental-Occupational Health, University of Limpopo (Medunsa Campus), Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa