Knowledge, Attitude of Health Professional Towards Health Care Waste Management in South East Nigeria
Abstract:
Adequate knowledge and attitude towards the collection/disposal
of health care waste (HCW) are important factors in the prevention of the spread
of infectious agents that may be of health risks to both the public and the environment.
Data on knowledge and attitude to healthcare waste management were scored based
on their respective questionnaire information obtained with a 5-point Likert scale
from strongly disagree to strongly agree (ie.1 to 5). Statistical analysis was performed
at 5% significant level. A probability value (p) and 95% confidence interval (CI)
were used to interpret the analysis results. The study found the 248 respondents,
71.8% are female while 28.2% were males with an average age of 37.4 years. Generally,
the waste handlers studied showed high knowledge of health care waste management,
with an overall mean score of 4.0 (out of 5). Knowledge of Medical waste management
showed a significant influence in patterns of healthcare waste management practices
(p = 0.0001, 95% CI = 0.0004 to 0.08). Many of the waste handlers showed a strong
positive attitude. There was no evidence however, of significant influence of attitude
towards healthcare waste management and pattern of healthcare waste management practices
in the study (p=0.131).
Keywords:
Knowledge, Attitude, health care waste, Health
professionals, waste disposal.
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