Prevalence and predictors of percutaneous injuries among health workers in Ghana: a cross-sectional study

Philip Apraku Tawiah ^1* Emmanuel Appiah-Brempong ² Paul Okyere ² Geoffrey Adu-Fosu ³ Mary Eyram Ashinyo ^4,5 Florence Shine Edziah ⁶ Emmanuel Daitey Amesimeku ^7,8 Priscilla Appiah Baffoe ⁹

• ¹ Department of Occupational and Environmental Health & Safety, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
• ² Department of Health Promotion and Disability Studies, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
• ³ Physiotherapy Unit, Diagnostic and Rehabilitation Directorate, Ho Teaching Hospital, Ho, Ghana, Ghana
• ⁴ Department of Quality Assurance – Institutional Care Division, Ghana Health Service Headquarters, Accra, Ghana
• ⁵ Department of Maternal and Child Health, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States
• ⁶ Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, School of Allied Health Sciences, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Volta region, Ghana
• ⁷ Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Biomedical and Allied Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
• ⁸ Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, School of Pharmacy, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Volta region, Ghana
• ⁹ Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana

Background: Percutaneous injuries (PI) persist as a prevalent healthcare issue, affecting over a third of healthcare workers worldwide on an annual basis. Globally, a few studies have documented the relationship between PI and factors like work pressure and shift systems. Additionally, limited evidence exists on how these factors contribute to this issue specifically in Ghana. Objective: The study examined exposure to PI and its predictors among health workers in Ghana. Methods: An analytic cross-sectional study involving multiple health facilities in the Greater Accra region was conducted between January 30 and May 31, 2023. A survey was carried out among 602 healthcare workers across 10 public and private hospitals. Study participants were selected using simple random sampling. Analysis was performed using STATA 15 software, and factors associated with PI were identified using log-binomial regression analysis, with a significance level set at p < 0.05. Results: The prevalence of PI was 26.9% (95% CI: 23.4%-30.6%). More work experience [APR = 0.97 (0.94, 0.99)], being on a mix of day, evening and night shifts [APR = 1.69 (1.26, 2.27)], frequent experience of work pressure [APR = 1.32 (1.00, 1.75)], frequent [APR = 0.59 (0.40, 0.88)], and constant [APR = 0.55 (0.40, 0.7)] adherence to standard precautions were factors significantly associated with PI. Conclusion: Shift schedules and work pressure contributed to the substantial rate of PI among healthcare workers in Ghana. It's imperative for health authorities to establish and enforce safety policies prioritizing pressure reduction and fostering a safety-oriented culture across all shifts.