Knowledge, perceptions and practices on healthcare waste management and associated occupational health hazards among healthcare professionals in the Colombo District, Sri Lanka: a cross-sectional study
BackgroundProper Healthcare Waste (HW) management is directly influenced by the knowledge and attitudes of Healthcare Professionals (HCP). However, studies that characterize the knowledge and practices of HCP on HW management are limited in Sri Lanka. This study was conducted to characterize the kno...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-12-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1215648/full |
| _version_ | 1827397742437072896 |
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| author | Lahiru Udayanga Loganatahan Sahana Ayesha Perera Koshila Ranasinghe Tharaka Ranathunge |
| author_facet | Lahiru Udayanga Loganatahan Sahana Ayesha Perera Koshila Ranasinghe Tharaka Ranathunge |
| author_sort | Lahiru Udayanga |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundProper Healthcare Waste (HW) management is directly influenced by the knowledge and attitudes of Healthcare Professionals (HCP). However, studies that characterize the knowledge and practices of HCP on HW management are limited in Sri Lanka. This study was conducted to characterize the knowledge, perceptions and practices of HCP on the management of HW and to determine the risk factors influencing HW related occupational health hazards in the Colombo District of Sri Lanka.MethodsA total of 407 HCP were recruited as the study population from selected hospitals in the Colombo District. Information on socio-demographic factors, knowledge, attitudes and practices on HW management were gathered using an interviewer-administrated questionnaire. The Binary Logistic Regression (BLR) was used to determine the socio-economic risk factors associated with the occurrence of HW related health issues among the respondents.ResultsThe majority of respondents were characterized with a high knowledge level (76.9%) and positive attitudes (53.8%) on HW management. Incineration (82.6%) was recognized as the most widely used HW treatment method. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) was used at a satisfactory level (85.5%), while liquid waste treatment was limited (57.5%). The occupational designation, level of training received in HW management, professional experience, vaccination status for tetanus, degree of knowledge and attitudes on HW management were recognized as significant risk factors (p < 0.05) associated with the occurrence of HW related occupational hazards.ConclusionEven though, the treatment of HW was satisfactory, strengthening the existing mechanisms for monitoring of HW management, provisioning more resources and organizing training and awareness programmes on HW management for HCP are recommended. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T19:14:01Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d9ef8cfadbc04c2bb1b773005a5c2716 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-2565 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T19:14:01Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-d9ef8cfadbc04c2bb1b773005a5c27162023-12-27T08:57:46ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652023-12-011110.3389/fpubh.2023.12156481215648Knowledge, perceptions and practices on healthcare waste management and associated occupational health hazards among healthcare professionals in the Colombo District, Sri Lanka: a cross-sectional studyLahiru Udayanga0Loganatahan Sahana1Ayesha Perera2Koshila Ranasinghe3Tharaka Ranathunge4Department of Biosystems Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture and Plantation Management, Makadura, Wayamba University of Sri Lanka, Kuliyapitiya, Sri LankaDurdans Hospital, Colombo, Sri LankaDepartment of Biosystems Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture and Plantation Management, Makadura, Wayamba University of Sri Lanka, Kuliyapitiya, Sri LankaDepartment of Zoology and Environmental Management, Faculty of Science, University of Kelaniya, Colombo, Sri LankaDepartment of Zoology, Faculty of Faculty of Science, Eastern University, Chenkalady, Sri LankaBackgroundProper Healthcare Waste (HW) management is directly influenced by the knowledge and attitudes of Healthcare Professionals (HCP). However, studies that characterize the knowledge and practices of HCP on HW management are limited in Sri Lanka. This study was conducted to characterize the knowledge, perceptions and practices of HCP on the management of HW and to determine the risk factors influencing HW related occupational health hazards in the Colombo District of Sri Lanka.MethodsA total of 407 HCP were recruited as the study population from selected hospitals in the Colombo District. Information on socio-demographic factors, knowledge, attitudes and practices on HW management were gathered using an interviewer-administrated questionnaire. The Binary Logistic Regression (BLR) was used to determine the socio-economic risk factors associated with the occurrence of HW related health issues among the respondents.ResultsThe majority of respondents were characterized with a high knowledge level (76.9%) and positive attitudes (53.8%) on HW management. Incineration (82.6%) was recognized as the most widely used HW treatment method. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) was used at a satisfactory level (85.5%), while liquid waste treatment was limited (57.5%). The occupational designation, level of training received in HW management, professional experience, vaccination status for tetanus, degree of knowledge and attitudes on HW management were recognized as significant risk factors (p < 0.05) associated with the occurrence of HW related occupational hazards.ConclusionEven though, the treatment of HW was satisfactory, strengthening the existing mechanisms for monitoring of HW management, provisioning more resources and organizing training and awareness programmes on HW management for HCP are recommended.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1215648/fullknowledge and attitudeshealthcare wastehealth hazardsoccupational healthSri Lanka |
| spellingShingle | Lahiru Udayanga Loganatahan Sahana Ayesha Perera Koshila Ranasinghe Tharaka Ranathunge Knowledge, perceptions and practices on healthcare waste management and associated occupational health hazards among healthcare professionals in the Colombo District, Sri Lanka: a cross-sectional study Frontiers in Public Health knowledge and attitudes healthcare waste health hazards occupational health Sri Lanka |
| title | Knowledge, perceptions and practices on healthcare waste management and associated occupational health hazards among healthcare professionals in the Colombo District, Sri Lanka: a cross-sectional study |
| title_full | Knowledge, perceptions and practices on healthcare waste management and associated occupational health hazards among healthcare professionals in the Colombo District, Sri Lanka: a cross-sectional study |
| title_fullStr | Knowledge, perceptions and practices on healthcare waste management and associated occupational health hazards among healthcare professionals in the Colombo District, Sri Lanka: a cross-sectional study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Knowledge, perceptions and practices on healthcare waste management and associated occupational health hazards among healthcare professionals in the Colombo District, Sri Lanka: a cross-sectional study |
| title_short | Knowledge, perceptions and practices on healthcare waste management and associated occupational health hazards among healthcare professionals in the Colombo District, Sri Lanka: a cross-sectional study |
| title_sort | knowledge perceptions and practices on healthcare waste management and associated occupational health hazards among healthcare professionals in the colombo district sri lanka a cross sectional study |
| topic | knowledge and attitudes healthcare waste health hazards occupational health Sri Lanka |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1215648/full |
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