Predictors of Practice about Blood Borne Infections among International Medical and Paramedical Students Using the Health Belief Model

摘要

Blood borne pathogens (BBP) are identified as pathogenic microorganisms, which exists in blood and can cause disease in people ( , ). Despite this fact, blood borne infections can be avoided by applying general and specific measures of prevention and control ( ). Medical and paramedical students are exposed to blood and other body fluids in the course of their practicum. Therefore, they are at risk of infection with blood borne viruses. The risk of infection for these students depends on the prevalence of disease in the patient population and the nature and frequency of exposures ( ). Increase in the incidence of deadly infections due to greater exposure to microorganisms and viruses that causes blood-borne diseases has led the medical community to initiate efforts to prevent and limit exposure among health care workers including medical students, as a result, more than 1000 HCW contracted serious blood-borne diseases, such as Hepatitis B, C or HIV ( ). Medical interns of Tehran University of Medical Sciences face a high risk of blood-borne infections through accidental blood exposures ( ). Besides, vaccination coverage was an acceptable level but its effectiveness is not clear yet, the incidence rate of definite Cutaneous Blood Exposure Accident’s was 0.56 person annually( ).