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In Sub-Saharan Africa, the prevalence of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) remains high, and there is a tiny but significant risk of surgical workers contracting HIV from infected surgical patients over time. At a tertiary hospital in Malawi, we performed this study to look into the attitudes and behaviors of surgical personnel when it came to preventing Occupational HIV Infection (OHI). This was a cross-sectional qualitative study that used a semistructured questionnaire to investigate the attitudes and practices of surgical staff (surgeons, nurses, and clinical officers) regarding self-protection from OHI. We gathered information on self-protective measures to limit the risk of HIV infection, as well as practices in the event of an accidental HIV infection. In addition, we conducted blind observations of operating room personnel. The data was manually evaluated, with themes drawn and conclusions drawn. Some people thought HIV’s infectiousness from workplace exposure was too low and insignificant. The importance of post-exposure prophylaxis was also overlooked. Due to a lack of resources for personal protection, the majority of employees did not use self-defense materials. There were no formal institutional protocols in place, nor were there any recommendations for staff training on OHI. The views and practice patterns of healthcare professionals in this Malawian institution are often, but not always, in line with scholarly research in the field of OHI prevention. The hospital’s level of information distribution and material support is insufficient.
