Background: Unsafe medical injections remain a potential route of
HIV transmission in Kenya. We used data from a national survey in
Kenya to study the magnitude of medical injection use, medication
preference, and disposal of medical waste in the community.
Methods: The Kenya AIDS Indicator Survey 2012 was a nationally
representative population-based survey. Among participants aged
15–64 years, data were collected regarding medical injections
received in the year preceding the interview; blood samples were
collected from participants for HIV testing.
Results: Of the 13,673 participants who answered questions on
medical injections, 35.9% [95% confidence interval (CI): 34.5 to
37.3] reported receiving $1 injection in the past 12 months and
51.2% (95% CI: 49.7 to 52.8) preferred receiving an injection over
a pill. Among those who received an injection from a health care
provider, 95.9% (95% CI: 95.2 to 96.7) observed him/her open
a new injection pack, and 7.4% (95% CI: 6.4 to 8.4) had seen a used
syringe or needle near their home or community in the past 12
months. Men who had received $1 injection in the past 12 months
(adjusted odds ratio, 3.2; 95% CI: 1.2 to 8.9) and women who had
received an injection in the past 12 months, not for family planning
purposes (adjusted odds ratio, 2.6; 95% CI: 1.2 to 5.5), were significantly
more likely to be HIV infected compared with those who had
not received medical injection in the past 12 months.
Conclusions: Injection preference may contribute to high rates of
injections in Kenya. Exposure to unsafe medical waste in the
community poses risks for injury and infection. We recommend
that community- and facility-based injection safety strategies be
integrated in disease prevention programs.