Abstract:

Health care waste management is fast becoming an area of interest in public health. It involves waste generation, handling, use of personnel protective equipment, decontamination of reusable cleaning devices after use, segregation, transportation of medical wastes. Pattern of practice is investigated as an important precursor to the synthesis of appropriate methods of proper handling of health care waste. This study specifically sought to investigate the pattern of health care waste management among health professionals working at Health care centers in South-east Nigeria. Based on data analyzed, the study found a reasonably strong pattern of Healthcare Waste management practice at 64.1%, compared to a weak pattern of 35.9%. Decontamination of reusable cleaning devices after every use, show a reasonable pattern of practice at 66.5%. Similar results were obtained in other health care waste practices assessed. The pattern for overall health care waste management practices in South-eastern Nigeria showed some reasonable level of practices with existing identifiable gaps that could hamper effective health care waste management among healthcare facilities within southeast Nigeria.

Keywords: South east Nigeria, health care waste, Health professionals, waste disposal, practice.

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