Knowledge, attitudes and practices of healthcare workers about healthcare waste management at a district hospital in KwaZulu-Natal

Background: Healthcare generates a large amount of healthcare waste (HCW), which is complex to manage because of its variety and potential to create health and safety hazards if improperly handled. It is essential that healthcare workers have appropriate knowledge of and adhere to proper disposal methods for each category of HCW.Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices of staff working at a district hospital about HCW management, and measure associations between these variables. Setting: The setting for this study was a district hospital in KwaZulu-Natal province.Methods: This was an observational descriptive study among 241 professional and non-professional staff. Data were collected using a questionnaire and analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences.Results: Knowledge of HCW management was generally inadequate, with 42.7% of the participants scoring ‘poor’ overall. Just over half of the participants reported a good attitude towards the appropriate disposal of HCW but only 53.9% demonstrated good HCW management practices. There was a significant (p 0.05) relationship between knowledge and practice and between attitudes and practices (p 0.05).Conclusion: Appropriate training and supervision in HCW management as well as relevant and ongoing in-service training is needed to ensure appropriate knowledge, attitudes and safe practice among all members of staff. As poor practices have been reported on a number of occasions from different hospitals in South Africa, relevant training must also be introduced or improved at undergraduate level.

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Assessing Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Healthcare Workers regarding Biomedical Waste Management at Biyem-Assi District Hospital, Yaounde: A Cross-Sectional Analytical Study

Advances in Public Health ◽

10.1155/2020/2874064 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 2020 ◽

pp. 1-7

Author(s):

Sylvain Honoré Woromogo ◽

Gwladys Guetsé Djeukang ◽

Félicité Emma Yagata Moussa ◽

Jesse Saint Saba Antaon ◽

Kingsley Ngah Kort ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Healthcare Workers ◽

Health Workers ◽

District Hospital ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Biomedical Waste ◽

Attitudes And Practices ◽

Good Level ◽

Research Activities ◽

Level Of Knowledge ◽

Knowledge Attitudes And Practices

Background. Biomedical waste (BMW) is defined as unwanted materials generated during diagnosis, treatment, operation, immunization, or in research activities including production of biologicals. Healthcare workers are responsible for the proper management of this waste for human safety and for the protection of the environment. Methods. An analytical knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) study was carried out at Biyem-Assi District Hospital from June 1st to July 5th, 2018, including 100 health workers from different departments. Variables of interest were knowledge, attitudes, and practices of the respondents. A structured and pretested questionnaire was used for data collection. Data analysis was carried out using software Epi Info version 7.2.2.6. Logistic regression was used to establish the relationship between knowledge, attitudes, and practices. Results. Nurses constituted 32.0% of the participants, and more than half of the participants had 1–4 years of working experience (56.0%). Overall, the level of knowledge was satisfactory at 50.0%, that of attitudes was as unfavorable at 83.0%, and that of practices was as poor at 50.0%. Favorable attitudes were associated to satisfactory level of knowledge (ORa = 5.14 [3.10–8.51] and p=0.005). Good practices were associated to good level of knowledge (ORa = 5.26 [3.17–8.7] and p<0.001) and a favorable attitude (ORa = 7.30 [2.25–23, 71] and p<0.001). Conclusion. The level of knowledge was considered unsatisfactory for half of the staff interviewed. Attitudes were unfavourable at 83.0% and poor practices at 50.0%. Staff with a good level of knowledge were more likely to have favourable attitudes towards BWM. Also, good knowledge and attitude positively influenced the practice with regard to BMW management.

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Preventing Infections and Improving Occupational Safety Among the Healthcare Workers Through Intensive Healthcare Waste Management Training in a Developing Country

American Journal of Infection Control ◽

10.1016/j.ajic.2016.04.198 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 44 (6) ◽

pp. S23 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Lutfe Ara ◽

Shaikh Mahmud Kamal Vashkar ◽

S.M. Niaz Mowla ◽

Md Delwar Hossain ◽

Utpal Kumar Mondal

Keyword(s):

Waste Management ◽

Developing Country ◽

Healthcare Workers ◽

Occupational Safety ◽

Management Training ◽

Healthcare Waste ◽

Healthcare Waste Management

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Healthcare Waste Management Practice and Associated Factors among Private and Public Hospitals of Bahir Dar City Administration

Journal of Environmental and Public Health ◽

10.1155/2020/7837564 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 2020 ◽

pp. 1-10

Author(s):

Dereje Mesfin Assemu ◽

Tadese Ejigu Tafere ◽

Yared Mulu Gelaw ◽

Getasew Mulat Bantie

Keyword(s):

Waste Management ◽

Healthcare Workers ◽

Management Practice ◽

Public Hospitals ◽

Private Hospitals ◽

Management Committee ◽

Healthcare Waste ◽

Private And Public ◽

Healthcare Waste Management ◽

Waste Management Practice

Background. Lack of an appropriate management practice of healthcare waste is a potential threat to the healthcare workers, patients, and nearby communities of the health institutions. Objective. The study aimed to assess the healthcare waste management practices (HCWMP) and associated factors among healthcare workers of private and public hospitals of Bahir Dar city administration, Ethiopia. Methods. A facility-based comparative cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2016 to April 2017. The systematic random sampling technique was employed to recruit 460 healthcare workers. The collected data entered into the EpiData software (version 3.1). The analysis was done by using SPSS software (version 20). Descriptive statistics were computed; logistic regression model was run. The model fitness was checked using Hosmer and Lemeshow goodness of fit p > 0.05 . A p value of < 0 . 2 at univariate analysis was included in the multivariable logistic regression analysis. Variables with a p value of <0.05 were statistically associated with healthcare waste management practice at 95% CI (AOR). Results. A total of 418 healthcare workers who participated in the study yielded a response of 90.9%. About 65% (95% CI: 61, 70) of the total respondents had good practice of healthcare waste management. More private hospitals, 79.2% (95% CI: 73, 85), had good healthcare waste management practice compared to public hospitals, 53.5% (95% CI: 47, 60). Male healthcare workers (AOR = 6. 43, 95% CI: 1.82, 22.77) and having a functional healthcare waste management committee (AOR = 6. 47, 95%CI: 1.93, 21.76) were significantly associated with HCWMP at private hospitals. For public hospitals, having a healthcare waste management committee (AOR = 1. 80, 95% CI: 1.03, 3.15) and a manual/guideline on HCWMP (AOR = 2. 43, 95% CI: 1.20, 4.91) was significantly associated with HCWMP. Conclusions. This study revealed there is a great discrepancy in HCWMP between private and public hospitals. Male healthcare workers and having a functional healthcare waste management committee and a manual/guideline were the identified factors of HCWMP.

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Nomenclature for Healthcare Waste in the Healthcare Sector and Its Alignment with the Provisions Made by The World Health Organization’s Manual for Healthcare Waste Management: A Scoping Review

Recycling ◽

10.3390/recycling3040051 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 3 (4) ◽

pp. 51

Author(s):

Lydia Hangulu

Keyword(s):

Waste Management ◽

Healthcare Workers ◽

World Health ◽

Healthcare Sector ◽

Middle Income ◽

Healthcare Facilities ◽

Healthcare Waste ◽

The World ◽

Healthcare Waste Management ◽

Health Organization

There is lack of uniform nomenclature for healthcare waste (HCW) globally, which could undermine efforts to develop and implement appropriate policies relating to healthcare waste management (HCWM) in developing countries. This study sought to understand the terminologies used to describe HCW, including their definitions, categories, classification, and how they align with those that are provided by the World Health Organization (WHO)’s global manual for HCWM from healthcare facilities. The study first identified terms from the existing literature; then, it conceptually mapped the literature, and identified gaps and areas of further inquiry. Six electronic databases—EBSCOhost, Open Access, ProQuest, PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar were used to search for literature. A total of 112 studies were included in the study. Despite having various nomenclature for HCW globally that align with those provided by the WHO manual, the use of varying nomenclature could create confusion among healthcare workers in the quest of managing HCW properly, especially in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). Further studies must be conducted to determine how these terminologies are interpreted and implemented in practice by healthcare workers. This will help to understand how their implementation aligns with the recommendations provided by the WHO manual.

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Awareness and practices of biomedical waste management in government health care facilities in Kamrup District, Assam

International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health ◽

10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20202998 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 7 (7) ◽

pp. 2684

Author(s):

Jutika Ojah ◽

Rakesh Sharma

Keyword(s):

Waste Management ◽

Healthcare Workers ◽

Health Care Facilities ◽

Healthcare Facilities ◽

Biomedical Waste ◽

Healthcare Waste ◽

Healthcare Waste Management ◽

Waste Segregation ◽

Study Population ◽

One Year

Background: Biomedical waste (BMW) is waste generated in the course of healthcare activities. It is a matter of serious concern to health and environment agencies. Objectives of the study was to assess awareness and practice of healthcare personnels regarding biomedical waste management (BMWM) in government healthcare facilities (HCF) in Kamrup district and to assess training given to healthcare workers involved in BMWM.Methods: The present study was undertaken in 109 HCF in Kamrup District, Assam. The study duration was for one year and the study population included were healthcare workers (HCW) with the help of a pretested interview schedule to elicit the knowledge of BMW management. An observatory checklist was also used to find out the practices.Results: About one-fourth of 218 respondents belonged to age group 26-30 years. Half of the respondents were nurses, 17.9% were doctors, 12.8% were pharmacists and 8.3% were waste handlers. Majority (78.4%) were aware of BMWM rules. Awareness on hazardness of healthcare waste, segregation of waste, maximum storage time of hospital waste, awareness about availability of training on healthcare waste management were found to be more among the doctors (84.6%, 79.4%, 56.4%, 82.1% respectively) and less among waste handlers (44.4%, 33.3%, 38.9%, 44.4% respectively). Only 40.8% were trained. The practice of disposing BMW in specified colour coded containers were done by 56.4% HCW. Out of 18 waste handlers, only 16.7% had the practice of wearing all the personal protective equipments (PPE) while handling BMW. All total 59.6% HCW had been vaccinated against Hepatitis B.Tetanus vaccination was taken by 77.5% HCW.Conclusions: Sensitization and training in accredited centres for HCW should be done regularly to develop awareness and motivation. Continuous monitoring and inspection of HCF need to be done.

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