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Objective: To provide evidence for intervention measures on safe injection through a survey on the safety of injection in the health facilities in Wulong county, Chongqing city, China., Methods: An investigation on injection safety was conducted among health care providers with a uniform questionnaire., Results: Glass syringes which were not appropriately sterilized was found in 52.2% (12/23) of the health facilities. Injection practices were not correct in 31.4% (11/35) of the health facilities. Used disposable syringes were discarded directly without any disposal in 63.6% (21/33) of the health facilities. At least one of the unsafe injection practices mentioned above existed in 77.1% (27/35) of the health facilities., Conclusions: The main unsafe factors in the practice of injection are included: the practice to change needle but not syringe in penicillin allergic test and the injuries caused by used disposable syringes in medical staff. The important measures to improve injection safety were to train the medical staff on the knowledge about safe injection and the risks caused by unsafe injection, and to equip the health facilities with safe tools to destroy the used disposable syringes.

Objective: To explore the feasibility of replacement of ordinary syringes by auto-disposal syringes (AD) in China., Methods: Sampling survey was conducted in Hebei province to collect data on the direct medical spending of hepatitis B and their Disability Adjusted Life Year (DALY) losses. The financial burden on hepatitis B was calculated based on the result of field survey as well as through data-base of the Second National Health Services Survey of MOH in 1998. The cost-benefit analysis was employed, in which the saving of the financial burden on hepatitis B patients attributing to unsafe injections was taken as the benefit of intervention and the increased expenditures of AD syringes as the costs., Results: The total financial disease burden of Hepatitis B in China in 2001 was between RMB 16.19 and 20.17 billion Yuan and the financial disease burden per patient was between RMB 1755.38 and 1409.64 Yuan. Study on the cost-benefit analysis in the replacement intervention program showed high financial feasibility. The Benefit-Cost Ratio (BCR) of the measure was between 32.46 and 97.39, which was bigger in rural areas than that in cities. The direct BCR was less than one when the price gap between ordinary syringe and AD exceeded RMB 0.24 Yuan., Conclusion: The intervention of safe injection practice through universal usage of AD to replace ordinary syringe seemed to be applicable due to its high potential economic benefits.

Objective: To estimate the frequency of injections and proportion of unsafe injections and to analyses the critical determinants of poor injection practices in general population in China. Also, to study knowledge, attitudes, practice research in providers and general population., Methods: A random sample consisting residents and health care providers in a rural county was elected and interview about the frequency of received injection, as well as knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding injections were studied., Results: Overall, 1 004 village residents, and 94 providers were interviewed. Among residents, 145 persons (14.4%), with 457 times (0.46 times per person) had received at least one injection during the previous 3 months. The frequency of injection was 1.84 per year. The proportion of received injections on treatment and immunizations was significantly different among > 12 years age group and < or = 12 years age group. Ninety-four point four percent of disposable syringes/needles were used for injections. Knowledge among the population and providers regarding injection safety was limited., Conclusion: Injections were moderately frequent in this rural area and the proportions of disposable syringes/needles used for injections was very high. Knowledge of safe injection and reasonable injection as well as consciousness of self-protection in the providers and residents need to be improved.