RESUMO
"Background: Blood Exposure Accidents (BEAs) are frequent in healthcare settings and may cause such severe consequences as HIV and Hepatitis B and C infections. Objective: to determine the attitudes and practices of nursing students facing BEAs. Materials and Methods: this was a cross-sectional prospective study conducted from August 16 to 23; 2011 at the ""Institut National de Formation des Agents de la Sante d'Abidjan"" (the National Institute in charge of training Health Workers). Data were collected by means of self-administered questionnaires. Results: out of 266 student nurses included in the study; 73.3% were females while 26.7% were males. Their mean age was 29 years [20 years - 37 years]. A previous training was conducted on BEAs for 67.3% of nursing students. Those students who were immunized against hepatitis were 75.2%. Needle recapping was practiced by 43.6% of nursing students. Unclean needles were eliminated in containers by 96.2% of the Background: Blood Exposure Accidents (BEAs) are frequent in healthcare settings and may cause such severe consequences as HIV and Hepatitis B and C infections. Objective: to determine the attitudes and practices of nursing students facing BEAs. Materials and Methods: this was a cross-sectional prospective study conducted from August 16 to 23; 2011 at the ""Institut National de Formation des Agents de la Sante d'Abidjan"" (the National Institute in charge of training Health Workers). Data were collected by means of self-administered questionnaires. Results: out of 266 student nurses included in the study; 73.3% were females while 26.7% were males. Their mean age was 29 years [20 years -37 years]. A previous training was conducted on BEAs for 67.3% of nursing students. Those students who were immunized against hepatitis B were 75.2%. Needle recapping was practiced by 43.6% of nursing students. Unclean needles were eliminated in containers by 96.2% of thestudents and waste containers were within close reach of only 65.4%. Glove wearing was systematic in 77.1% of the students. Before the survey 38% of nursing students had been victim of BEAs at least once. Those BEAs were not reported in 68.3% of the victims.Conclusion: the attitudes and practices of nursing students are inadequate with regards to BEAs. A module on Hospital Hygiene is necessary in view of improving the training of nursing students."