Abstract:
On the already limited human resource capacity in health care workforce, HIV is also causing loss of health
professionals. Africa, in particular, faces the loss of vast number of educated health care workers. Given the
pivotal role of frontline health care workers in resource constrained countries, the potential loss of this number
of health care workers each year is a serious problem that needs urgent attention. The aim of this study was to
evaluate post-exposure prophylaxis utilization against exposure to HIV/AIDS risk factors among health care
workers in Gondar city, Northwest Ethiopia. Institution based quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted
from May 5-26, 2014 in one referral hospital and three health centres in Gondar city. A total of 162 health
care workers having history of occupational exposure to HIV/AIDS risk factors within the last one year were
selected through simple random sampling method. Data collected by interviewing health care workers were
entered using EPI INFO version 3.5.3 statistical software and exported to and analyzed using SPSS version
20.0. From a total of 162 health care workers having occupational exposure to HIV/AIDS risk factors, only 41
(25.3%) received post exposure prophylaxis. Gender, reporting occupational exposure and drinking alcohol
were significant factors associated with post exposure prophylaxis uptake by health care workers having one
year history of accidental occupational exposure to HIV/AIDS risk factors
