Unsafe injection practices in Hodeidah governorate, Yemen

Background: Unsafe injection practices are a major public health problem and can lead to the transmission of bloodborne pathogens, including hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Methods: The present study was conducted to determine the nature and magnitude of unsafe injection practices in healthcare facilities in Hodeidah governorate, Yemen. The study was conducted in two hospitals and a representative sample of the governorate's health centers. A total of 1600 injections were observed in these facilities. Results: This study revealed several unsafe practices, particularly the recapping of needles after use, which occurred in 61.1% and 36.8% of the observations in the hospitals and the health centers, respectively. Conclusion: This study showed that most healthcare workers (HCWs) followed the proper injection protocols but performed some procedures that exposed themselves and the community to the risk of needlestick injuries (NSIs) and bloodborne infections. © 2013 King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences.