Scarcity of healthcare worker protection in eight low- and middle-income countries: Surgery and the risk of HIV and other bloodborne pathogens Journal Article
| Authors: | Leow, J. J.; Groen, R. S.; Bae, J. Y.; Adisa, C. A.; Kingham, T. P.; Kushner, A. L. |
| Article Title: | Scarcity of healthcare worker protection in eight low- and middle-income countries: Surgery and the risk of HIV and other bloodborne pathogens |
| Abstract: | Objective In view of the substantial incidence of bloodborne diseases and risk to surgical healthcare workers in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), we evaluated the availability of eye protection, aprons, sterile gloves, sterilizers and suction pumps. Methods Review of studies using the WHO Tool for the Situational Analysis of Access to Emergency and Essential Surgical Care. Results Eight papers documented data from 164 hospitals: Afghanistan (17), Gambia (18), Ghana (17), Liberia (16), Mongolia (44), Sierra Leone (12), Solomon Islands (9) and Sri Lanka (31). No country had a 100% supply of any item. Eye protection was available in only one hospital in Sri Lanka (4%) and most abundant in Liberia (56%). The availability of sterile gloves ranged from 24% in Afghanistan to 94% in Ghana. Conclusion Substantial deficiencies of basic protective supplies exist in low- and middle-income countries. © 2011 Blackwell Publishing Ltd. |
| Keywords: | human immunodeficiency virus infection; protective clothing; infection; risk factors; hospital; health care; surgical risk; health care personnel; surgery; world health organization; human immunodeficiency virus; acquired immune deficiency syndrome; asia; developing countries; pathogenicity; blood-borne pathogens; health risk; health care delivery; health personnel; eye protection; infection risk; general surgery; sierra leone; hiv infections; infectious disease transmission, patient-to-professional; occupational health; protective devices; income; hiv; occupational exposure; preventive medicine; africa; hiv/aids; eye protective devices; protective equipment; disease prevalence; safety management; disinfectant agent; bloodborne diseases; chirurgie; cirugía; enfermedades transmitidas por sangre; maladies transmissibles par le sang; salud ocupacional; santé du travail; vih/sida; hospital sector; income distribution; afghanistan; gambia; ghana; liberia; mongolia; pump; solomon islands; sri lanka; solomon islands [(isg) melanesia]; west africa; gloves, surgical; melanesia |
| Journal Title: | Tropical Medicine and International Health |
| Volume: | 17 |
| Issue: | 3 |
| ISSN: | 1360-2276 |
| Publisher: | Wiley-Blackwell Publishing, Inc. |
| Date Published: | 2011-10-31 |
| Start Page: | 397 |
| End Page: | 401 |
| Language: | English |
| DOI: | 10.1111/j.1365-3156.2011.02909.x |
| PROVIDER: | scopus |
| PUBMED: | 22035344 |
| DOI/URL: | |
| Notes: | --- - "Export Date: 2 April 2012" - "CODEN: TMIHF" - "Source: Scopus" |
