Healthcare worker safety: a vital component of surgical capacity development in low-resource settings

Abstract

Introduction: A disparate number of occupational exposures to bloodborne pathogens occur in low-income countries where disease prevalence is high and healthcare provider–per-population ratios are low.

Methods: In an effort to highlight the important role of healthcare worker safety in surgical capacity building in Rwanda, we measured self-reported presence of safety materials and compliance with personal protective equipment in the operating theatre as part of a nationwide survey to characterize emergency and essential surgical capacity in all government hospitals.

Results: We surveyed 44 hospitals. While staff report general availability of safe disposal of sharps and hazardous waste, presence of and compliance with eye protection was lacking. Staff were cognizant of prevention measures such as double-gloving and ‘safe receptacles’, as well as hospital policies for post-exposure prophylaxis for HIV following needlesticks, but there was little awareness of hepatitis exposure.

Conclusions: Healthcare worker safety should be a key component of hospital-level surgical capacity.

Keywords:

• Africa
• Surgery
• Healthcare worker safety
• Health personnel
• Operating room safety
• Occupational health
• Bloodborne pathogens

Work was funded through a Fogarty International Clinical Research Fellowship, National Institutes for Health and International Clinical Research Fellows Program at Vanderbilt University, USA (R24 TW007988). Additional support was provided by the Rwanda Ministry of Health/Clinton Health Access Initiative.

Disclosure: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.