Introduction
Healthcare workers face certain occupational risks due to injuries and exposure to blood and human bodily fluids during waste handling. The objective of our study was to determine the frequency and associated factors of blood exposure incidents (BEIs) in military healthcare facilities in Kisangani.
 
Methods
A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted in four military healthcare facilities in Kisangani from July 10 to December 30, 2023. A total of 422 healthcare providers involved in service delivery and waste management were selected from each department of the different healthcare facilities. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. The collected data were entered into Excel and analyzed using Stata 13. A bivariate analysis using Pearson’s chi-squared test was used to identify factors associated with blood exposure incidents.
 
Results
The majority of participants (82%) had knowledge of universal precaution measures. Standard precaution measures were consistently observed by the respondents, notably wearing gowns during procedures (48%), wearing gloves (77%), using single-use syringes (67%), and practicing hygienic handwashing (80%). The frequency of blood exposure incidents was 48%. The factors statistically associated with blood exposure incidents were the nursing professional category (p<0.005), the 31–40-year age group (p<0.005), and the habit of recapping needles (p<0.005).
 
Conclusion
The frequency of blood exposure incidents is very high among healthcare providers in military healthcare facilities in Kisangani. Needle recapping was the main risk behavior related to BEIs. Strategies or interventions aimed at improving the working conditions of healthcare providers and increasing their adherence to universal precautions are necessary.