Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Healthcare Managers to Medical Waste Management and Occupational Safety Practices: Findings from Southeast Nigeria
Introduction: Awareness of appropriate waste management procedures and occupational safety measures is fundamental to achieving a safe work environment, and ensuring patient and staff safety. Aim: This study was conducted to assess the attitude of healthcare managers to medical waste management...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
JCDR Research and Publications Private Limited
2017-03-01
|
| Series: | Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://jcdr.net/articles/PDF/9527/24230_CE[Ra1]_F(DK)_PF1(SYGH)_PFA(DK)_PF2(NE_SY_DK).pdf |
| Summary: | Introduction: Awareness of appropriate waste management
procedures and occupational safety measures is fundamental
to achieving a safe work environment, and ensuring patient and
staff safety.
Aim: This study was conducted to assess the attitude of
healthcare managers to medical waste management and
occupational safety practices.
Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study
conducted among 54 hospital administrators in Ebonyi state.
Semi-structured questionnaires were used for qualitative data
collection and analyzed with SPSS statistics for windows (2011),
version 20.0 statistical software (Armonk, NY: IBM Corp).
Results: Two-fifth (40%) of healthcare managers had received
training on medical waste management and occupational safety.
Standard operating procedure of waste disposal was practiced
by only one hospital (1.9%), while 98.1% (53/54) practiced
indiscriminate waste disposal. Injection safety boxes were
widely available in all health facilities, nevertheless, the use of
incinerators and waste treatment was practiced by 1.9% (1/54)
facility. However, 40.7% (22/54) and 59.3% (32/54) of respondents
trained their staff and organize safety orientation courses
respectively. Staff insurance cover was offered by just one hospital
(1.9%), while none of the hospitals had compensation package
for occupational hazard victims. Over half (55.6%; 30/54) of the
respondents provided both personal protective equipment and
post exposure prophylaxis for HIV.
Conclusion: There was high level of non-compliance to standard
medical waste management procedures, and lack of training on
occupational safety measures. Relevant regulating agencies
should step up efforts at monitoring and regulation of healthcare
activities and ensure staff training on safe handling and disposal
of hospital waste. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 2249-782X 0973-709X |