Perceived Risk of Occupational Exposure to HIV and Associated Factors among Healthcare Workers at District Hospitals in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana: A Cross-sectional Study

• Majority of HCWs reported moderate perceived HIV risk at work. • Perceived availability of PEP was associated with perceived risk of occupational exposure to HIV. • Perceived social support predicted perceived risk of occupational exposure to HIV. • Healthcare workers with less experience were more likely to perceive higher risk of occupational exposure to HIV. This study examined perceived risk of occupational exposure to HIV and correlates among HCWs in district hospitals in the Greater Accra Region. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 2,006 HCWs at district hospitals in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana from February to May, 2025. Data were collected using a pre-tested questionnaire and analysed with SPSS (version 22). Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests and multinomial logistic regression were used to analyse data. Most HCWs perceived themselves at moderate risk of occupational exposure to HIV (69.9%). HCWs reporting moderate social support for PEP had higher odds of perceiving moderate risk (AOR = 1.49, 95% CI: 1.08–2.04, p = 0.015). Healthcare workers with 1–5 years (AOR = 2.09, 95% CI: 1.09–4.01, p = 0.027), 6–10 years (AOR = 2.06, 95% CI: 1.08–3.91, p = 0.028), and 11–15 years (AOR = 2.65, 95% CI: 1.36–5.17, p = 0.004) were more likely to report moderate risk of HIV. Most of the HCWs at the district hospitals in the region perceived themselves at moderate risk of occupational exposure to HIV. Strengthening protective resources and addressing workers’ perceptions can enhance safety, wellbeing, and resilience within Ghana’s health system.