Occupational Exposure to Bloodborne Pathogens and Post-Exposure Prophylaxis Uptake Among Laboratory Personnel in Adamawa State, North East Nigeria

Occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens including HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C is a persistent hazard for medical laboratory personnel, with post-exposure prophylaxis representing the critical last line of defence. This study assessed the prevalence of occupational exposure incidents and post-exposure prophylaxis uptake among laboratory personnel in Adamawa State, North East Nigeria. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 150 practising medical laboratory scientists, technicians, and phlebotomists across seven public health facilities. Structured questionnaires captured data on types of occupational exposure, frequency, reporting practices, and PEP utilisation. Three quarters of respondents reported at least one needlestick or sharps injury in the past three years. Mucocutaneous splashes were reported by 42.0% of participants. However, only 38.6% of exposed personnel reported the incident to occupational health services, and only 29.3% initiated PEP within the recommended 72-hour window. Barriers to reporting included fear of stigma, perceived procedural complexity, and poor awareness of PEP benefits. HBV vaccination coverage was only 54.7% despite its availability. The study highlights critical gaps in occupational health service utilisation by laboratory personnel in North East Nigeria and recommends mandatory incident reporting systems, intensified HBV vaccination campaigns, institutional PEP starter packs at all laboratory sites, and annual biosafety refresher training as essential components of staff protection programmes. Keywords: bloodborne pathogens, occupational exposure, post-exposure prophylaxis, needlestick injury, Adamawa State