Healthcare waste management in Ghanaian hospitals: Associated public health and environmental challenges

2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (8) ◽  
pp. 831-839 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen T Odonkor ◽  
Tahiru Mahami
Keyword(s):  
Waste Management ◽  
Waste Disposal ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Healthcare Operations ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Healthcare Facilities ◽  
Healthcare Waste ◽  
Healthcare Waste Management ◽  
Waste Management Practices

Healthcare waste generation is an integral part of healthcare operations. Improper healthcare waste management and disposal can be detrimental to humans and the environment. The objective of this paper is to investigate the healthcare waste management practices, aiming to provide needed data to inform policy decisions. The study was conducted using a cross-sectional study. Quantitative data was obtained from 497 respondents who worked in 25 major healthcare facilities. Data was analyzed using (SPSS) version 23.0. Results indicated that 52.4% of respondents had knowledge about healthcare waste management. However, only 12% of the respondents were open to training in healthcare/biomedical waste management. Less than half of the respondent (47.5%) practiced waste segregation at the sources of generation. There were significantly more healthcare waste disposal materials available ( P = 0.001) in private than government and quasi-government hospitals. Based on the major findings of the study, we recommend that adequate training as well as Personal Protective Equipment (PPE’s) should be provided to healthcare professionals to improve healthcare waste management. Complacence in adhering to Healthcare waste disposal guideline must be addressed.

Healthcare waste management during disasters and its effects on climate change: Lessons from 2010 earthquake and cholera tragedies in Haiti

2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 236-245 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emilia M Raila ◽  
David O Anderson
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Waste Management ◽  
Waste Disposal ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Linear Regression Analysis ◽  
Waste Incineration ◽  
Healthcare Waste ◽  
New Findings ◽  
Healthcare Waste Management ◽  
The Government

Despite growing effects of human activities on climate change throughout the world, and global South in particular, scientists are yet to understand how poor healthcare waste management practices in an emergency influences the climate change. This article presents new findings on climate change risks of healthcare waste disposal during and after the 2010 earthquake and cholera disasters in Haiti. The researchers analysed quantities of healthcare waste incinerated by the United Nations Mission in Haiti for 60 months (2009 to 2013). The aim was to determine the relationship between healthcare waste incinerated weights and the time of occurrence of the two disasters, and associated climate change effects, if any. Pearson product–moment correlation coefficient indicated a weak correlation between the quantities of healthcare waste disposed of and the time of occurrence of the actual emergencies (r (58) = 0.406, p = 0.001). Correspondingly, linear regression analysis indicated a relatively linear data trend (R2 = 0.16, F (1, 58) = 11.42, P = 0.001) with fluctuating scenarios that depicted a sharp rise in 2012, and time series model showed monthly and yearly variations within 60 months. Given that the peak healthcare waste incineration occurred 2 years after the 2010 disasters, points at the need to minimise wastage on pharmaceuticals by improving logistics management. The Government of Haiti had no data on healthcare waste disposal and practised smoky open burning, thus a need for capacity building on green healthcare waste management technologies for effective climate change mitigation.

scholarly journals Study of knowledge, behaviour and practice of biomedical waste among health personnel

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (8) ◽  
pp. 3330 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anjuman Chowdhary
Keyword(s):  
Waste Management ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Medical Waste ◽  
World Health ◽  
Healthcare Personnel ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Healthcare Facilities ◽  
Biomedical Waste ◽  
Health Organization

Background: Healthcare wastes are of great importance due to its hazardous nature. As World Health Organization (WHO) indicated, some of healthcare wastes are considered the most hazardous and potentially dangerous to human health and pollute the environment. With this background this study was undertaken to assess awareness, behavior and practices healthcare personnel about biomedical waste, its hazards and management.Methods: This one cross-sectional study was conducted at S.V.B.P. hospital associated with L.L.R.M. medical college, Meerut. A total of 291 healthcare personnel who consented for interview were interviewed biomedical waste management rules and observed for biomedical waste management practices by using redesigned and a pretested questionnaire. The data was analysed by using SPSS software.Results: Awareness regarding bio-medical waste management rules was 67% in doctors, 60% in nurses, 57% among lab technicians, but the sanitary staff was not aware about this. Awareness about category of BMW, number, colour coding, disposed content, labelling and cover of waste containers and segregation of waste were more among nurses and lab technicians in comparison to doctors but minimum among sanitary staff. All the respondents (100%) doctors, nurses and lab technicians knew that HIV and Hepatitis B transmitted through Bio medical waste but their awareness regarding Hepatitis C and other diseases was very low. 74% of sanitary Staff did not know that these diseases could be transmitted through bio medical waste.Conclusions: Healthcare facilities should get their healthcare personnel trained from accredited training centers.

scholarly journals The Key Organizational Factors in Healthcare Waste Management Practices of Libyan Public Hospitals

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (22) ◽  
pp. 12785
Author(s):  
Mohammed Khalifa Abdelsalam ◽  
Ibrahim Mohammed Massoud Egdair ◽  
Halima Begum ◽  
Diara Md. Jadi ◽  
Hussein-Elhakim Al Issa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Waste Management ◽  
Positive Relationship ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Organizational Factors ◽  
Two Dimensions ◽  
Public Hospitals ◽  
Healthcare Waste ◽  
Healthcare Waste Management ◽  
Waste Management Practices

This study aims to investigate factors contributing to healthcare waste management practices among Libyan public hospitals. The organizational culture and structure are proposed to have their effect upon hospital organizational units in charge of healthcare waste production by a theoretical review to develop two main hypotheses. Hence, this study used the stratified random sampling technique to select respondents such as top management officials, heads of departments, and administrators who work in all the hospitals located in the south of Libya, from whom data was collected. The data for the study was gathered via a survey questionnaire from Libyan public hospitals in the country’s southern region. A total of 210 questionnaires were distributed and 171 usable responses were received, yielding a 70% response rate. Though the findings of the study show some inconsistency, the two dimensions of the culture examined in this study are found to have a positive relationship and significant influence on the management practices of health waste. Besides, it shows the positive relationship between organizational structure and healthcare waste management practices (HWMP). However, the findings of this study suggested that nurses and cleaners’ practices should critically consider structure dimensions such as formalization as well as moderating variables such as hospital location and type of services supplied on the interactions to improve the management of healthcare waste in Libya’s public hospitals.

scholarly journals Waste management barriers in developing country hospitals: Case study and AHP analysis

2017 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 48-58 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diego V de Godoy Delmonico ◽  
Hugo H dos Santos ◽  
Marco AP Pinheiro ◽  
Rosani de Castro ◽  
Regiane M de Souza
Keyword(s):  
Waste Management ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Analytic Hierarchy ◽  
Healthcare Waste ◽  
Multi Criteria Evaluation ◽  
Healthcare Waste Management ◽  
Waste Management Practices ◽  
Analytic Hierarchy Process Method ◽  
Hierarchy Process

Healthcare waste management is an essential field for both researchers and practitioners. Although there have been few studies using statistical methods for its evaluation, it has been the subject of several studies in different contexts. Furthermore, the known precarious practices for waste management in developing countries raise questions about its potential barriers. This study aims to investigate the barriers in healthcare waste management and their relevance. For this purpose, this paper analyses waste management practices in two Brazilian hospitals by using case study and the Analytic Hierarchy Process method. The barriers were organized into three categories – human factors, management, and infrastructure, and the main findings suggest that cost and employee awareness were the most significant barriers. These results highlight the main barriers to more sustainable waste management, and provide an empirical basis for multi-criteria evaluation of the literature.

scholarly journals Assessment of Solid Waste Management at Source in Compliance With Guidelines Among Residents of Kawempe Division, Kampala, Uganda

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Maderu ◽  
Kizito Omona
Keyword(s):  
Waste Management ◽  
Solid Waste ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Solid Waste Management ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Awareness Campaigns ◽  
Household Solid Waste ◽  
Waste Storage ◽  
Waste Management Practices

Abstract Background: Solid waste management poses a big challenge for many urban households, municipalities and cities, especially in developing countries, partly due to increasing urbanization. Overcrowding and informal settlements have emerged with illegal and indiscriminate waste disposal. Guidelines for proper management of solid waste are least observed at house hold level in such settings. The purpose of the study was to assess solid waste management at source in compliance with guidelines among residents of Kawempe municipality Kampala district. Methods: It was descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study design, with both quantitative and qualitative methods. 385 households heads and four local leaders were interviewed using researcher administered questionnaires and interview guide. Results: The study found that only 37.9% of households complied with guidelines for solid waste management at source. Factors of waste management practices were waste reduction (p=0.005), separation (p=0.001), reuse (p=0.001) and composting (p=0.027). Determinants such as gender (p=0.007), marital status (p=0.016), level of education (p<0.0001), occupation (p=0.007), household size (p=0.025), medium of community sensitization (p<0.0001), enforcement of bi-laws (p=0.005), type of waste generated (p<0.0001) and waste storage method (p=0.009) were implicated. Conclusion: Compliance with guidelines in the management of household solid waste at source was still very low within the city. Authorities ought to intensify household solid waste management awareness campaigns.

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