Health hazards among health care personnel

Abstract

While providing health services, (preventive, curative, rehabilitative), health care personnel (HCP) face hazards. Developments in medical science provide some safety, still modern technology has made health care very complex with many hazards. Biological (viruses, bacteria, and parasites) and chemical (disinfectants, drugs, and diagnostics) therapeutic modalities in health delivery are leading to many disorders in HCP. Needle prick injuries, radiation exposure, violence, psychiatric disorders, stalking by patients, and suicides are common. HCP are at high risk for musculoskeletal disorders, due to patient handling, compounded by increasing number of obese patients. With increase in workload because of human immunodeficiency virus, hardships have increased. Despite potential for exposure to hazards, many HCP lack awareness about prevention. Also the system is not conducive, policies of prevention not clear, inaccessibile, or there is attitude problem. Hence, HCP continue to suffer, more in developing countries. Health managers need to ensure that health care is geared toward assessment of hazards suffered by HCP, there reasons, and do everything possible for prevention.

Keywords

• Hazards
• health care personnel
• health services