Occupational Exposure, Risk Perception and Access to Prophylaxis for HIV/AIDS Infection among Health Care Workers in Northern Nigeria

Introduction: This study was designed to describe occupational exposure, risk perception and access to prophylaxis for HIV/AIDS among the health care workers in Northern Nigeria.
Methods: This study is an analytical cross-sectional study. Multistage sampling technique was used to obtain a representative sample and a structured self-administered questionnaire was used to collect relevant information.
Results: A total of 421 health care workers were interviewed, 5.2% reported per-cutaneous exposure to HIV infected blood or body fluids in the workplace in the last 6 months. Predictors of risk perception were working in public facilities [OR=2.28, C.I=1.26-4.15], male gender [OR=3.42, C.I=1.59-7.36] and training on infection control [OR=1.94, C.I=1.13-3.34]. Significantly more males [OR=2.33, C.I=1.12-4.94], those in public facilities [OR=5.85, C.I=1.97-19.48], urban facilities [OR=24.99, C.I=3.67-491.82] and those in tertiary facilities [[OR=17.96, C.I=6.04-59.99] reported a greater access to prophylaxis medication.
Conclusion: The study concludes that male health care workers that are young, working in public facilities and have insufficient knowledge about HIV/AIDS have a high risk perception for HIV/AIDS while those in urban and public facilities especially tertiary facilities reported a ready access to prophylaxis medication. Uneven distribution of medication and other health care resources in Northern Nigeria and similar populations may contribute to increased casualty among the health care workers.