Human immunodeficiency virus infection: Vulnerability of doctors in surgical subspecialties of a tertiary health-care setting in Nigeria

Introduction: Anxieties about the transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in Nigeria are present both in general public and the surgical communities. Research on its effect on occupational health and safety is still evolving in Sub-Saharan Africa. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in a tertiary referral hospital from October to December 2016. Doctors working in all surgical subspecialties area were included in the study. Data were stored and analyzed using Analyze-it version 2.25 Excel 12+ (2013). Multivariate analysis to determine predictors of vulnerability toward HIV infection was carried out. P = 0.05 or less was considered statistically significant. Results: Of the 95 questionnaires returned, 74 were fully completed making a response rate of 77.9%. Males preponderance was observed (66 [89.2%)]), while there were only 8 (10.8%) females (male:female = 8.3:1). The age ranged from 24 to 53 years (mean age = 36.9 years ± 8.2 standard deviation). More than half of the doctors, i.e. 49 (66.2%) had operated on a known HIV/AIDS-infected patient. There was no correlation between perception of HIV occupational hazard with age, gender, specialty, practice years, and cadre ( χ 2 = 15.73, df = 17, P = 0.543). Twenty-three surgeons (31.1%) sustained needlestick injuries in the past 1 year and 19 (82.6%) confirmed having at least two episodes. Four (17.4%) had received free postexposure prophylaxis. Conclusion : The findings from this series suggested that the hospital adherence to universal cross infection control measures is suboptimal. It is necessary for hospital to promote minimal invasive surgery.