Original Research Article
Year: 2023 | Month: September | Volume: 13 | Issue: 9 | Pages: 125-136
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijhsr.20230920
Biomedical Waste Management and Disposal Practices among Hospital Staff in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria
Ijeoma Anthonia Udeaja1, Anyalewechi Eunice Nwoke2, Chike Christopher Okereke3
1,2,3Department of Public Health, Federal University of Technology Owerri, Imo State
Corresponding Author: Ijeoma Anthonia Udeaja
ABSTRACT
Objectives: the study aimed at ascertaining the biomedical waste management and disposal practices among hospital staff in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Methodology: A hospital based, cross sectional study was conducted among 325 respondents using a stratified and simple random technique and the study population included health workers of the selected hospitals in the group of doctors, nurses, pharmacists, staff of laboratory and waste handlers. Questionnaire administration and field observation of biomedical wastes was used in this study.
Results: 35% (106) of the respondents were between 35-44 years of age. Overall knowledge of biomedical waste management among the hospital workers was 80.2%. Eighty three percent of the respondents agreed that biomedical waste is hazardous, 52% agreed that there is good management of waste while 64% said proper management is financial burden on the hospital. Also 65% approved sterilization of infectious waste before disposal while 87% accepted upgrade of knowledge training. In regards chi-square analysis, Age (p=0.00923), Level of Education (p= 0.0025) and Length of experience (p= 0.0457) were all associated with the level of knowledge of biomedical waste management.
Conclusion: this study shows that a significant number of hospital workers are aware of biomedical waste generation, management and disposal practices. This includes the use of PPEs and color-coding of hospital wastes before disposal. However, the attitude to biomedical waste management and disposal practices is average and therefore a challenge.
Key words: biomedical waste, hospital, waste management, knowledge and attitude.