EXAMINATION OF THE MEDICAL WASTE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AMONG THE HEALTHCARE WORKERS IN SELECTED HOSPITALS IN AWKA

Abstract

The management of healthcare waste has been identified as a major problem confronting developing countries. The aim of this study is to examine the Medical Waste Management practices among healthcare personnel in selected health-care facilities in Awka, Anambra State. The objectives pursued were, to examine the current practices of managing medical waste among the healthcare workers in selected hospitals in Awka, and to identify the challenges faced by healthcare workers to engage in best practices of medical waste management. Survey design and a purposeful sampling technique were employed for the study, with a sample size of 300 gotten from Taro Yamane’s formula. Questionnaires, interviews and field observation were instrument for data collection. Descriptive statistics were carried out to determine relative frequencies and means of variables. The findings were that Waste management practices in selected hospitals are public concern as there was low compliance with standard healthcare waste management. The study recommends that creation of awareness on the policies and legislative instruments that guide the handling, treatment, and final disposal of healthcare waste is imperative and that adoption of the NESREA/WHO standard colour coding for waste segregation/separation, storage and disposal is necessary. The study concluded that there was low compliance with standard Healthcare Waste management and there is need for cooperation between the government, top management of the health care facilities, other healthcare workers, patients and all other users of the health centre to ensure that health hazards and environmental problems as a result of poor medical waste management are reduced in size

Keywords: Medical waste, Practices, Healthcare workers and Hospitals