B. Gumodoka et al., OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE TO THE RISK OF HIV-INFECTION AMONG HEALTH-CARE WORKERS IN MWANZA REGION, UNITED-REPUBLIC-OF-TANZANIA, Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 75(2), 1997, pp. 133-140
During 1993, we collected data on knowledge of human immunodeficiency
virus (HIV) transmission, availability of equipment, protective practi
ces and the occurrence of prick and splash incidents in nine hospitals
in the Mwanza Region in the north-west of the United Republic of Tanz
ania. Such incidents were common, with the average health worker being
pricked five times and being splashed nine times per year. The annual
occupational risk of HIV transmission was estimated at 0.27% for heal
th workers. Among surgeons, the risk was 0.7% (i.e. more than twice as
high) if no special protective measures were taken. Health workers' k
nowledge and personal protective practices must therefore be improved
and the supply of protective equipment supported Reduction of occupati
onal risk of HIV infection among health workers should be an integral
part of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) control strategies.