Unsafe injection practices in Gujarat, India

Introduction: The objective of this study was to obtain comprehensive data on injection practices, especially about safety issues, among health services providers and residents in the Anand district of Gujarat, India. Methods: The study was a cross-sectional study. Stratified random sampling method was used to select primary healthcare facilities, and the field method of randomisation was used to select families in the general population in the catchment areas of the selected health facilities. Thus, 182 health facilities and 510 families (2,080 population) were covered in the study. Results: Almost 77 percent of service providers had unsafe injection practices, including the use of a boiling pan for sterilisation, recapping of needles and exposure to body fluids. The proportion of unsafe injection practices was higher among Government health service providers. The prevalence of needle stick injuries (NSI) among service providers was 52.2 percent and the annual incidence of NSI was 19 percent. 21.6 percent of the population studied had received one or more injections in the past one year, and the average number of injections per head per year in the present study was 0.2. Conclusion: The study revealed a high proportion of unsafe injection practices in the district studied, but a low average number of injections per head per year in the community. Serious issues regarding injection safety need to be addressed urgently. There is a need to develop local guidelines for injection usage and implement a community-based educational programme for the people.