ArticleCureus2026
Burden, Management, and Outcome of Needle-Stick Injuries Among Healthcare Workers at Muhimbili National Hospital in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Article in Cureus, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
11 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Introduction Needle-stick injuries (NSIs) are a major occupational hazard for healthcare workers (HCWs), exposing them to blood-borne pathogens such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV). Despite existing prevention protocols, NSIs remain common in resource-limited settings. This study assessed the burden, management, and outcomes of NSIs among HCWs at Muhimbili National Hospital, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Methods A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 150 healthcare workers from various professional categories. Data were collected from January to December 2025 using a structured self-administered questionnaire assessing demographics, NSI exposure, reporting behavior, post-exposure management, knowledge of NSI protocols, preventive practices, psychological impact, and HBV vaccination status. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the findings. Results Eighty participants (53.3%) reported experiencing at least one NSI during their career. Among exposed participants, 33 (41.3%) reported experiencing two to three NSIs within the previous 12 months. The most common circumstances of injury were patient procedures (n=34, 43.0%), disposal of sharps (n=16, 20.3%), and needle recapping (n=13, 16.5%). Most participants were aware of hospital NSI protocols (n=134, 89.3%) and had received formal training (n=107, 71.3%); however, 68 participants (45.4%) reported always or sometimes recapping needles. Reporting rates were high, with 69 participants (87.3%) reporting their most recent NSI. Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) was received or offered to 61 participants (77.2%), and 38 participants (51.4%) initiated PEP within two hours of exposure. Psychological distress following NSI was reported by 67 participants (87.0%). Hepatitis B vaccination coverage was 68.7% (n=103), while 24 participants (16.0%) remained unvaccinated. Conclusion NSIs remain a significant occupational challenge at Muhimbili National Hospital, with substantial prevalence, recurrent injuries, and persistent unsafe practices. Although reporting systems and post-exposure response mechanisms appear robust, gaps remain in needle-handling practices and HBV vaccination coverage. Strengthening preventive training, enforcing non-recapping policies, expanding access to safety-engineered devices, and improving vaccination coverage may help reduce occupational exposure among HCWs.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.