PREVALENCIA DE LESIONES CON OBJETOS CORTOPUNZANTES EN LOS TRABAJADORES DE LA SALUD DEL DISTRITO 24D01 DE SANTA ELENA-ECUADOR

Abstract

Describe the main risks to which healthcare workers (HCWs) are exposed, in a specific way determine the profession most exposed to needlestick injury (NSI), contributing factors and consequences of NSI, in the HCWs of Santa Elena District 24D01. Methodology: Quantitative-qualitative, descriptive and retrospective analytical study, with a universe of 243 WHCs, a confidence interval of 95% and a margin of error of 5% a sample of 149 people was taken for the study. Results: We obtained that the total of 149 respondents, 8 suffered injury by sharp objects in the last 4 years, representing 5.4% of the total number of injured, 75% were women and 50% were registered nurses coinciding with many accomplished studies where nurses are the most affected by the characteristics of their activity. Conclusions: The HCWs are exposed to different occupational hazards and illness due to their occupation. According to the (OMS, 2006) it mentions seven types of risks in the HCWs are involved: biological (such as hepatitis, tuberculosis and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome); chemicals (such as contact with glutaraldehyde and ethylene oxide); physical (such as noise and radiation); ergonomic (like lifting heavy objects) and psychosocial (like stress and violence).The hepatitis B and C, and HIV are infectious diseases that can cause terminal damage to the career and the life itself of healthcare workers. Finally, the importance of implementing risk prevention practices at work is evident.