When knowledge is not enough: infection prevention and control practices and occupational biological exposures among dental professionals in Zimbabwe.

BACKGROUND

Dental professionals are routinely exposed to occupational biological hazards, yet evidence from low-resource settings remains limited. This study assessed infection prevention and control (IPC) knowledge and practices, quantified occupational biological exposures, and identified factors associated with sharps injuries and occupational infections.

METHODS

A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted among 220 dental professionals in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. Data were collected using a structured self-administered questionnaire and analysed using descriptive statistics and bivariate and multivariable logistic regression. Adjusted odds ratios (aORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were reported.

RESULTS

Lifetime sharps injury was reported by 61.2% of participants, 14.7% reported a sharps injury during the preceding 12 months, and 18.3% reported an occupational infection. Despite high awareness of core IPC principles, occupational exposure remained common. Recent sharps injury was independently associated with early-career role (aOR = 4.01; 95% CI: 1.26-12.76), eye protection use (aOR = 2.88; 95% CI: 1.21-6.84), poor hand hygiene adherence (aOR for often/always = 0.34; 95% CI: 0.12-0.97), and lower perception scores (aOR = 0.49 per unit increase; 95% CI: 0.32-0.75). Public-sector employment was independently associated with self-reported occupational infection (aOR = 2.66; 95% CI: 1.25-5.64).

CONCLUSION

Dental professionals in Bulawayo experienced substantial occupational biological hazards despite generally high awareness of IPC principles. These findings demonstrate that IPC knowledge alone is insufficient to prevent occupational exposure. Strengthening competency-based IPC training, post-exposure management, institutional IPC systems, and targeted support for early-career dental professionals can reduce occupational injuries and occupational infections.