Author(s)

Hermione Dahlia Mossoro-Kpinde^1,2*, Caleb Koyambenguia³, Yves Kpangba Mangbé³, Saint Calvaire Henri Diemer^2,4

¹Ministère du Travail de l’Emploi de la Protection Sociale et de la Formation Professionnelle, Bangui, Central African Republic.
²Département de Santé Publique à la Faculté des Sciences de la Santé de l’Université de Bangui, Bangui, Central African Republic.
³Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de l’Amitié Sino-Centrafricaine de Bangui, Bangui, Central African Republic.
⁴Département de Formation Continue à la Faculté des Sciences de la Santé de l’Université de Bangui, Bangui, Central African Republic.

Introduction: Like healthcare workers, medical students are also exposed to a risk of accidental contamination during their hospital internships. However, they do not benefit from prevention services in the same way as workers in this sector, although they actively participate in the routine care provided to patients in the various hospital departments. The objective of our study is to determine the incidence of these accidents and their medical and administrative management among these victims (medical students) not classified in the category of workers. Materials and Method: This was a cross-sectional study carried out over three months from January 15 to March 14, 2023. The study population consisted of all medical students at the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Bangui. Regularly enrolled students from 2nd to 7th year, on placement in hospitals in the Central African Republic and who gave their informed consent were included. Data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire. Results: A cross-sectional study was carried out among medical students concerning the incidence and management of accidents involving exposure to blood in the Central African Republic. Of the 254 students included, three (9%) had already been correctly vaccinated against the viral hepatitis B virus, 198 (77.9%) reported still having access to personal protective equipment, 133 students (52.4%) reported being victims of OBE in the past 12 months. The main types of OBE were stings (62%), followed by liquid splashes (32%) and cuts (6%). Among the 133 victims, 92.9% carried out immediate hand disinfection or abundant eye washing, 41.9% obtained the serology of the source patient and 37% reported the accident to their supervisor. Conclusion: It is important that students benefit from better prevention and management of these accidents.

Incidence of Blood Exposure Accidents, Medical Student, Treatment, Bangui

Mossoro-Kpinde, H. , Koyambenguia, C. , Mangbé, Y. and Diemer, S. (2024) Incidence and Management of Occupational Blood Exposure (OBE) among Medical Students at the University of Bangui. Occupational Diseases and Environmental Medicine, 12, 68-77. doi: 10.4236/odem.2024.122008.