A study to assess injection practices in civil dispensaries

About 16 billion injections are administered each year worldwide, and at least half of them are unsafe. India contributes 25–30% of the global injection load. A majority of curative injections are unnecessary. Estimates suggest that at least 50% of the world's injections administered each year are unsafe particularly in developing countries.

The Present study was a cross-sectional study done for 3 months in all the Civil Dispensaries to Assess the Knowledge, Skill and Practices of Health Care Providers working at Civil Dispensaries regarding “Safe Injection Practices” and also to compare the differences between the knowledge and actual practices among Health Care providers of District Gwalior.

A total of 35 Health Care Providers were taken in the study. All of them knew that the gloves should be worn during injection procedure but only 4 (11.43%) actually worked during the process. 10 (28.57%) knew that the gloves should be worn for both personal and patient safety. 5(14.29%) did not knew anything about blood borne viral diseases i.e. Human Immuno Deficiency Virus, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C which could be transmitted to the Health Care Providers.

There was a great disparity between knowledge and practices of Health Care Providers regarding injection practices. Efforts are to be needed to be done in this regard for the benefit of both Health Care Providers and the patients.