Medical injection and access to sterile injection equipment in low- And middle-income countries: A meta-analysis of Demographic and Health Surveys (2010–2017)

Authors

Emmanuel O. Adewuyi, Edith Cowan UniversityFollow
Asa Auta

Author Identifier

Emmanuel Adewuyi

ORCID : 0000-0002-4533-0340

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Title

International Health

Publisher

Oxford University Press

School

School of Medical and Health Sciences / Centre for Precision Health

RAS ID

36126

Comments

Adewuyi, E. O., & Auta, A. (2020). Medical injection and access to sterile injection equipment in low-and middle-income countries: A meta-analysis of Demographic and Health Surveys (2010–2017). International Health, 12(5), 388-394. https://doi.org/10.1093/inthealth/ihz113

Abstract

Background Unsafe injection practices contribute to increased risks of blood-borne infections, including human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B and hepatitis C viruses. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of medical injections as well as assess the level of access to sterile injection equipment by demographic factors in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Methods We carried out a meta-analysis of nationally representative Demographic and Health Surveys (DHSs) conducted between 2010 and 2017 in 39 LMICs. Random effects meta-analysis was used in estimating pooled and disaggregated prevalence. All analyses were conducted using Stata version 14 and Microsoft Excel 2016. Results The pooled 12-month prevalence estimate of medical injection was 32.4% (95% confidence interval 29.3–35.6). Pakistan, Rwanda and Myanmar had the highest prevalence of medical injection: 59.1%, 56.4% and 53.0%, respectively. Regionally, the prevalence of medical injection ranged from 13.5% in west Asia to 42.7% in south and southeast Asia. The pooled prevalence of access to sterile injection equipment was 96.5%, with Pakistan, Comoros and Afghanistan having comparatively less prevalence: 86.0%, 90.3% and 90.9%, respectively. Conclusions Overuse of medical injection and potentially unsafe injection practices remain a considerable challenge in LMICs. To stem the tides of these challenges, national governments of LMICs need to initiate appropriate interventions, including education of stakeholders, and equity in access to quality healthcare services.

DOI

10.1093/inthealth/ihz113

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 License