Assessment of the health care waste generation rates and its management system in hospitals of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2011

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Healthcare waste management options are varying in Ethiopia. One of the first critical steps in the process of developing a reliable waste management plan requires a widespread understanding of the amount and the management system. T...

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Main Authors: Debere Mesfin Kote, Gelaye Kassahun Alemu, Alamdo Andamlak Gizaw, Trifa Zemedu Mehamed
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2013-01-01
Series:BMC Public Health
Online Access:http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/13/28
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author Debere Mesfin Kote
Gelaye Kassahun Alemu
Alamdo Andamlak Gizaw
Trifa Zemedu Mehamed
author_facet Debere Mesfin Kote
Gelaye Kassahun Alemu
Alamdo Andamlak Gizaw
Trifa Zemedu Mehamed
author_sort Debere Mesfin Kote
collection DOAJ
description <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Healthcare waste management options are varying in Ethiopia. One of the first critical steps in the process of developing a reliable waste management plan requires a widespread understanding of the amount and the management system. This study aimed to assess the health care waste generation rate and its management system in some selected hospitals located in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Six hospitals in Addis Ababa, (three private and three public), were selected using simple random sampling method for this work. Data was recorded by using an appropriately designed questionnaire, which was completed for the period of two months. The calculations were based on the weights of the health care wastes that were regularly generated in the selected hospitals over a one week period during the year 2011. Average generation indexes were determined in relation to certain important factors, like the type of hospitals (public vs private).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The median waste generation rate was found to be varied from 0.361- 0.669 kg/patient/day, comprised of 58.69% non-hazardous and 41.31% hazardous wastes. The amount of waste generated was increased as the number of patients flow increased (r<sub>s</sub>=1). Public hospitals generated high proportion of total health care wastes (59.22%) in comparison with private hospitals (40.48%). The median waste generation rate was significantly vary between hospitals with Kruskal-Wallis test (X<sup>2</sup>=30.65, p=0.0001). The amount of waste was positively correlated with the number of patients (p < 0.05). The waste separation and treatment practices were very poor. Other alternatives for waste treatment rather than incineration such as a locally made autoclave should be evaluated and implemented.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These findings revealed that the management of health care waste at hospitals in Addis Ababa city was poor.</p>
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spelling doaj.art-e6c058e21bad4030a47e7c69e435993a2022-12-21T20:55:43ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582013-01-011312810.1186/1471-2458-13-28Assessment of the health care waste generation rates and its management system in hospitals of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2011Debere Mesfin KoteGelaye Kassahun AlemuAlamdo Andamlak GizawTrifa Zemedu Mehamed<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Healthcare waste management options are varying in Ethiopia. One of the first critical steps in the process of developing a reliable waste management plan requires a widespread understanding of the amount and the management system. This study aimed to assess the health care waste generation rate and its management system in some selected hospitals located in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Six hospitals in Addis Ababa, (three private and three public), were selected using simple random sampling method for this work. Data was recorded by using an appropriately designed questionnaire, which was completed for the period of two months. The calculations were based on the weights of the health care wastes that were regularly generated in the selected hospitals over a one week period during the year 2011. Average generation indexes were determined in relation to certain important factors, like the type of hospitals (public vs private).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The median waste generation rate was found to be varied from 0.361- 0.669 kg/patient/day, comprised of 58.69% non-hazardous and 41.31% hazardous wastes. The amount of waste generated was increased as the number of patients flow increased (r<sub>s</sub>=1). Public hospitals generated high proportion of total health care wastes (59.22%) in comparison with private hospitals (40.48%). The median waste generation rate was significantly vary between hospitals with Kruskal-Wallis test (X<sup>2</sup>=30.65, p=0.0001). The amount of waste was positively correlated with the number of patients (p < 0.05). The waste separation and treatment practices were very poor. Other alternatives for waste treatment rather than incineration such as a locally made autoclave should be evaluated and implemented.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These findings revealed that the management of health care waste at hospitals in Addis Ababa city was poor.</p>http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/13/28
spellingShingle Debere Mesfin Kote
Gelaye Kassahun Alemu
Alamdo Andamlak Gizaw
Trifa Zemedu Mehamed
Assessment of the health care waste generation rates and its management system in hospitals of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2011
BMC Public Health
title Assessment of the health care waste generation rates and its management system in hospitals of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2011
title_full Assessment of the health care waste generation rates and its management system in hospitals of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2011
title_fullStr Assessment of the health care waste generation rates and its management system in hospitals of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2011
title_full_unstemmed Assessment of the health care waste generation rates and its management system in hospitals of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2011
title_short Assessment of the health care waste generation rates and its management system in hospitals of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2011
title_sort assessment of the health care waste generation rates and its management system in hospitals of addis ababa ethiopia 2011
url http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/13/28
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