eng Science and Education Publishing American Journal of Public Health Research 2327-6703 2023-11-24 11 6 189 196 10.12691/ajphr-11-6-3 AJPHR20231163 article George Njogu Karoki georgephil2@gmail.com, pkgachoki@gmail.com 1 2 3 Tula Galgalo 3 3 Joyce Balindawa 3 3 Lawrence Kirimi Gitonga 3 4 Peter Kinyua Gachoki georgephil2@gmail.com, pkgachoki@gmail.com 5 Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program, Nairobi, Kenya Department of Pure and Applied Sciences, Kirinyaga University Kenya Occupational health risk of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) to health care workers (HCWs) is a burden in the health sector. This determines the prevalence of HIV exposure, uptake of Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) among the exposed HCWs and associated factors in Kiambu County, Kenya. A hospital-based cross-sectional quantitative study was carried out in Kiambu and Thika hospitals from April to June 2017. Probability proportionate to size sampling was used to identify 108 and 184 HCWs from Kiambu and Thika. Simple random sampling was used to select participants by cadre from each site. Data was analyzed using EPI Info 7. Bivariate analysis was used to assess association between outcome variables and demographic and occupational characteristics. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% Confidence Interval (CI) was used and variables with P-value of <0.20 were entered into multiple regression. A total of 292 HCWs were interviewed. The mean age of respondents was 33.4 years (SD± 9.40), 166 (58.90%) were females, nurses 108 (37%) and 174 (59.59%) were married. Overall prevalence of exposure to HIV was 120/292 (41.1%), 67/ (55.8%) were female, needle stick exposure was 48/120 (40%). Among the exposed, 43 (35.8%) were initiated on PEP out of which 30/43 (70%) completed the treatment course. Results showed doctors (120 aOR 4.6; 95% CI: 1.6-12.6) and work experience of ¡Ü 5 years (aOR 2.2; 95% CI: 1.0-5.2) to be most at risk of HIV exposure. Age 35-44 years (aOR 4.7; 95% CI: 1.0-23) was associated with PEP uptake. The prevalence of occupational exposure to HIV was high among HCWs, and common route of exposure was needle stick injuries. Age 35-44 years was associated with PEP uptake whereas being a doctor and work experience of ¡Ü 5 years was associated with significant HIV exposure. Therefore, the study recommended mandatory infection control and prevention training for new employees and adequate counseling to reduce stigma to exposed HCWs. http://pubs.sciepub.com/ajphr/11/6/3/ajphr-11-6-3.pdf human immunodeficiency virus post exposure prophylaxis health care workers prevalence occupational exposure