Delawala S. A., Fakih S., Farooqui M., Ghouri N. A., Haleem A. A., Hashim U. F., Hassan I., Hussain N. and Fikree F. F.

Department Of Community Health Sciences, The Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan.

The use of contaminated/used needles by health professionals has been shown to be a significant risk factor for the transmission of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV). In order to develop effective interventions, it is necessary to determine the factors responsible for this high risk behavior. We conducted a study to determine the knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP), regarding needle usage of general practitioners (GP’s) working in a periurban settlement near Karachi.

GP’s were selected by convenience sampling, from among an estimated 28 GP’s working in the study area. A questionnaire was administered to 18 of these GP’s. An observational study was also conducted, to document the actual needle practices.

Of the 18 GP’s that were interviewed, 55% (10) were M.B.B.S. and 45% (8) were non-M.B.B.S. qualified. The majority of the GP’s (77%) reported that 65% of all patients seen in their clinics received injections. Almost all the GP’s (94%) reported that patients presenting to their clinics insisted on getting an injection. Malaria, gastroenteritis, respiratory tract infections and weakness, were the most common diseases for which injections were prescribed. It was reported by 72% (14) of the GP’s that patients preferred injections over oral medications given that both modes of therapy were equally effective. Although 82% (16) of the GP’s were aware that reused needles could transmit a fatal disease , none of them knew that Hepatitis C Virus could be transmitted by used needles. On the other hand 66% were aware that Human immuno deficiency virus (HIV) could be so transmitted. We observed that all the interviewed GP’s were administering injections using contaminated\used needles and syringes.

Our results suggest that GP’s administer injections for conditions that can be treated by oral medications. We therefore suggest that health education and raising awareness among GP’s, regarding the risks of using contaminated needles and syringes be advocated.

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