Prevalence of HIV Infection among Health Care Workers in Major Health Care Settings in Eastern Part of Libya

Abstract

Health care workers (HCWs) who have occupational exposure to blood are at increased risk for acquiring blood-borne infections.  Aims of the study: To determine the prevalence of HIV among HCWs in five major hospitals in the eastern part of Libya. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in a random sample; this study was done on 601 of HCWs healthcare workers in five major healthcare settings in the eastern part of Libya, during the period between July 2008 to June 2009 rapid methods for HIV, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) techniques method and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). A structured and anonymous questionnaire sheet was filled by each of the HCWs through direct personal interviews. After verbal consent 5-10 ml, a blood sample was extracted from each HCW. Results: The majority of HCWs (89.0%) were able to identify that HIV is caused by viruses and not by other microorganisms like bacteria or parasites. Although the majority of HCWs know that contamination with blood or blood products, unsterilized needles or surgical instruments, unsafe sex, folk behaviour like tattooing and piercing, and sharing personal items (e.g. toothbrush, razor, and nail scissors) are essential modes of transmission of these viruses, however many of them were falsely reported that sharing clothes, usage of same toilet and skin contact are also an important mode of transmission of these viruses.  Moreover, most HCWs did not believe that the infected persons with these viruses may remain asymptomatic for a long time and always persist for one‘s whole life. More than one-third of HCWs were unaware of any available policy or procedure for reporting sharp injuries in their place of work. Moreover, the majority of HCWs (88.7%) do not use needle removers or needle cutters before disposing of injection pieces of equipment. Furthermore, half of the HCWs do not have sufficient quantities of sharps boxes to dispose of sharps safely in their workplaces. More surprisingly, more than half of the studied HCWs never attend any education or training programs on infection control and prevention during their previous work careers. As for HIV infection, it is almost non-existent (0.0%), Conclusion: The present study showed that no infection by HIV and the lack of educational programs and the lack of post-exposure documentation are concerns. A clear, thoughtful, well-planned and carefully structured risk reduction approach to hospital infection control is needed for this high-risk population.