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Accidental exposures to blood among dental health care workers in five Referral Hospitals in Yaoundé, Cameroon.

Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: INTRODUCTION: Dental healthcare workers are at risk of being infected during their work due to exposure to blood. AIMS: To determine the prevalence of accidental exposure to blood and body fluids, to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of these dental healthcare workers, and to identify factors associated with this exposure. METHODS: A cross-sectional hospital-based study was conducted between December 1st 2020 and June 1st 2021 in the dental services of five referrals hospitals. Dental healthcare workers present at the time of the study were recruited. Data were analyzed with R software. Multivariate analysis was used to determine factors associated with blood exposure, with their adjusted odds ratios and p-values. A p value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The frequency of accidental exposure to blood was 55% (95% CI: 47.9% - 67.2%), with needle stick injury (34.8%) being the main mechanism. Assessment of perceptions among victims revealed that those with average knowledge (84.6%), right attitudes (62.5%), and adequate practices (55.5%) were predominant. Factors statistically associated with accidental exposure were dental technician (adjusted Odds Ratio = 2.5; p = 0.02), length of employment greater than 10 years (adjusted Odds Ratio = 1.9; p < 0.01), insufficient knowledge (adjusted Odds Ratio = 2.5; p = 0.023), harmful attitudes (adjusted Odds Ratio = 3.5; p = 0.006), and inadequate practices (adjusted Odds Ratio =1.6; p = 0.008). CONCLUSION: There is a high rate of accidental exposure to blood in dental units. Efficient strategies to protect dental healthcare workers should be identified and implemented.
DOI: 10.62438/tunismed.v103i10.5307
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7118086399
FWCI: 0.732
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Cited by: 1
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