Assessment of Disposal Practices among Health Workers in Selected Hospitals in Abuja

Download Article

DOI: 10.21522/TIJPH.2013.10.02.Art009

Authors : Edith C Okechukwu, Jeffrey S Soni, Azuka C Oparah, Sunday O Aguora

Abstract:

Safe disposal procedures of biomedical wastes cannot be overstressed in achieving efficient waste management and mitigating environmental hazards and risk of exposure to humans. The investigation was conducted to assess the disposal procedures of biomedical waste in selected hospitals in Abuja. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and on-the-spot observation. Six hospitals that provided health care services in Abuja were surveyed. Descriptive, inferential statistics and reliability tests were used to analyze the data. Chi-square (χ2) test was used to determine the association between standard handling practices of biomedical waste and biomedical waste management with (p<0.05). The result showed that the respondents agreed to these methods of disposal in this order where the burning pit was the predominant method of disposal, followed by incineration, dumping site, landfill, and burial. The disposal plans were inefficient as black bags of wastes littered the temporary dumpsite at the hospital premises and the use of unprotected dysfunctional incineration. The Cronbach’s alpha α = 0.830, loading factor (0.735-0.939) which indicates that the measuring tool was reliable and the items on the questionnaire showed interrelatedness and consistency. A coordinated system for tracking and monitoring treatment and disposal procedures of biomedical wastes is critical in the combat against epidemics and environmental pollution. Improved, safe and environmentally friendly disposal procedures should be employed. The health workers who are the waste generators are obliged to monitor, conduct risk assessments, and formulate policies for the safe disposal of biomedical wastes.

Keywords: Biomedical waste, Disposal Procedures, Efficient, Environmental pollution, Hazards, risk exposures.

References:

[1] Abor, P.A.Medical waste management practices in a southern African hospital, J. Appl. Sci. Environ. Manag. 11 (3) (2007) 91–96.

[2] Oli, A.N. Ekejindu, C.C. Adje, D.U., Ezeobi, I., Ejiofor, O.S. Ibeh, C.C. Ubajaka, C.F. (2016) Healthcare waste management in selected government and private hospitals in Southeast Nigeria, Asian Pacific Tropical Biomedicine 6 (1) (2016) 84–89.

[3] WHO (2014). Safe management of wastes from healthcare activities. Available at: www.who.org.

[4] WHO (2005) Management of Solid Health-Care Waste at Primary Health-Care Centres: A Decision-Making Guide, WHO, Geneva.

[5] LAWMA. Medical Waste Management. Lagos Waste Management Authority. 2013. Available at: http://www.lawma.gov.ng/overview.

[6] Coker AO. Sangodoyin A. Sridhar M., Booth M.C. and Olomolaiye, P and Hammond F,Medical waste management in Ibadan, Nigeria: Obstacles and Prospects. Waste Management. 2009;29(2):804–811.

[7] Abor, P.A., Managing healthcare waste in Ghana: a comparative study of public and private hospitals. Int J Health Care Qual Assur, 2013. 26(4): p. 375-86.

[8] World Health Organization, Geneva. (1992). Managing medical wastes in developing countries: report of a Consultation on Medical Wastes Management in Developing Countries, Geneva, Available at: http://whqlibdoc.who.int/hq/1994/ WHO_PEP_RUD_94.1.pdf.

[9] Ola-Adisa, E. O. Mangden, Y.E. Sati, Y.C. and Adisa, J. O. (2015) “Knowledge, attitudes/beliefs and practices in the medical waste management-an appraisal of Jos North LGA, Plateau State, Nigeria,” International Journal of Resaerch in Humanities and Social Studies 2 (12) pp. 43–56.

[10] Dieng, C, Mberu, B., Dimbuene, Z., Faye, C., Amugsi, D., Aboderin, I. (2016) Centre Biomedical waste management in Dakar- Legal framework, health, and environmental issues. African Population and Health Research. Urban Africa and Risk Knowledge Working Paper No 15 pp 1-35.

[11] WHO (2020) Water, sanitation, hygiene, and waste management for SARSCoV- 2, the virus that causes COVID-19: Interim guidance. The World Health Organization. Available at: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/WHO-2019-nCoV-IPC-WASH-2020.4 (accessed 12 January 2021).

[12] Hossain M. S, Santhanam A, Norulaini NAN, (2011) Clinical solid waste management practices and its impact on human health and environment A review. Waste Management 31: 754–766.

[13] Bassey, B.E., Benka-Coker, M.O., Aluyi, H.S. (2006) Characterization and management of solid HCW in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja Nigeria. African Health Sciences. 6(1):59–63.

[14] WHO (2002) National Health-Care Waste Management Plan Guidance Manual. WHO fact sheet.

[15] Ali, M., Wang,W, Chaudhry, N. (2017) Hospital waste management in developing countries: A mini review. Waste Management & Research 35: 581–592.

[16] Mmereki D, Baldwin A, Li B, et al. (2017) Healthcare waste management in Botswana: Storage, collection, treatment, and disposal system. Journal ofMaterial Cycles and Waste Management 19: 351–365.

[17] Patwary M.A., O’Hare, W. T. and Saker, M.H. (2011) Assessment of occupational and environmental safety associated with medical waste disposal in developing countries. A quantitative approach. Safari Science 49 (8-9) pp1200-1207.

[18] Tudor TL, Barr SW, and Gilg AW (2009) Linking intended behaviour andactions: A case study of healthcare waste management in the Cornwall NHS. Resources, Conservation and Recycling 51: 1–23.

[19] WorldHealth Organization. (2012) Wastes from healthcare activities. Fact sheet no 231. April 2012. study. Bio Medical Central Public Health 19 (203) pp1 -10.

[20] Diaz LF, Savage GM, and Eggerth LL (2005) Alternatives for the treatment and disposal of healthcare wastes in developing countries. Waste Management 25: 626–637.

[21] Hiremath, R. N., Basandra, S., Kunte, R., Ghodke, S., Edwards, T. S., Yadav, J. Yadav, A. K., Patil, S. (2017). Assessment of biomedical waste management of a multispeciality hospital in the light of new BMW rules 2016: what has changed from the past? International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health 4 (9) pp 3224-3229.

[22] United Nations Fund for Population Activities (2015) UNFPA in FCT, Abuja. WHO (2011) Health-care waste management: Health-care waste needs sound management, including alternatives to incineration.

[23] Glenn, I. D. (1992) Sampling the Evidence of Extension Program Impact. Program Evaluation and Organizational Development, IFAS, University of Florida. PEOD-5. October pp1-5.

[24] Bendjoudi Z, Taleb F, Abdelmalek F, et al. (2009) Healthcare waste management in Algeria and Mostaganem department. Waste Management 29:1383–1387.

[25] Shouman E., Al Bazedi, G. Sorour M.H. (2013) Management of hazardous medical waste treatment in Egypt. World Applied Sciences Journal 28: 804–808.

[26] Abah, O.S., Ohimain,G.G. (2011) Healthcare waste management in Nigeria, Journal of Public Health and Epidemiology. 3(3): 99-110.

[27] Chima, G.N., Abanobi O. C., Abaraogu, U.J. Uwalaka C, H. Asonye, I.C., Nwakpa, P. (2015) Hospital Waste generation and Management Practices in Owerri, Nigeria. African Journal of Environmental Science and Technology 8(11) pp 623-632.

[28] Longe, E.G., Williams, A. (2006). A preliminary study of medical waste management in Lagos Metropolis, Nigeria. Journal of Environmental Health Sciences. 3(2) pp 133-139.

[29] Omoleke S.A., Usman, N., Kehinde Kazeem Kanmodi, K. K. and Ashiru, M. M. (2021) Medical waste management at the primary healthcare centres in a northwestern Nigerian State: Findings from a low-resource setting. Public Health in Practice 2 (2021).

[30] Al-Khatib I.A. and Sato C (2009) Solid health care waste management status at health care centers in the West Bank – Palestinian territory. Waste Management 29: 2398–2403.

[31] Nwachukwu, N. C., Orji F. A and Ugbogu, O. C. (2013) Health Care Waste Management Public Health Benefits, and the Need for Effective Environmental Regulatory Surveillance in Federal Republic of Nigeria. Current Topics in Public Health pp 149- 178.

[32] Udofia E. A., Fobil, J. N. and Gulis, G. (2015). Solid medical waste management in Africa. African Journal of Environmental Science and Technology 9(3) pp 244-254.

[33] Nemathaga F, Maringa S and Chimuka L (2008) Hospital solid waste management practices in Limpopo Province, South Africa: A case study of two hospitals. Waste management 28: 1236–1245.

[34] Uchechukwu, E.E., Babatunde, I. O. and Ndu A. C. (2017) Investigating Knowledge, Attitude and Health Care Waste Management by Health Workers in a Nigerian Tertiary Health Institution. Global Journal of Health Science 9 (4) pp 222-232.

[35] Denloye, A.A., Ojuromi, O.T., Ochei, K. and Ade-Serrano, E.A. (2018) Bio safety Knowledge, Waste Disposal Practices and Identification of Parasites in Biomedical Wastes from Healthcare Establishments in Lagos and Abuja, Nigeria. Biomedical journal of scientific and Technical Research 5(4) pp 4759-64.

[36] Okechukwu, E. C., Oparah, A. C. and Aguora, S. O. (2020). Assessment of Practices and Awareness of Safety Measures of Biomedical Waste Management among Health Workers in Metropolitan Hospitals in Abuja, Nigeria. Texila International Journal of Academic Research, 7 (2): 103-111.

[37] World Health Organization (WHO). (1999). Safe managment of waste from health-care activities. World Health Organization, Geneva http://who.int/water_sanitation_health/Environmental_sanit/MHCWHanbook.htm Accessed 27 July 2009.

[38] Chisolm, J. M., Zamani, R, Negm, A. M. Noha, S., Mahmoud M Abdel daiem, Dibaj, M, and Mohammad Akrami (2021) Sustainable waste management of medical waste in African developing countries: A narrative review. Waste Management & Research vol. 39(9) 1149–1163.

[39] Mangaa, E.V., Fortonb, T.O., Moforc, A.L., Woodardd, R. (2011). Health care waste management in Cameroon: a case study from the Southwestern region. Journal of Res Cons Recycling https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2011.10.002.

[40] Abd El-Salam MM (2010) Hospital waste management in El-Beheira Governorate, Egypt. Journal of Environmental Management 91: 618–629.

[41] Nkhuwa D.CW., Kafula T. Ahmed A. H., (2008) Preliminary Inventory of Hazardous Medical Waste Disposal Systems and their influence on Groundwater Quality in Lusaka Medical Journal Zambia 35 (4) pp123-138.

[42] Deress, T. Hassen, F. Adane, K. and Tsegaye, A. (2017). Assessment of Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice about Biomedical Waste Management and Associated Factors among the Healthcare Professionals at Debre Markos Town Healthcare Facilities, Northwest Ethiopia. Journal of Environmental and Public Health pp1-10.

[43] Bataduwaarachchi V, Thevarajah R and Weeraratne C (2018) Medication waste disposal practices among patients attending selected outpatient departments in a tertiary care institution: A cross-sectional survey. International Journal of Basic & Clinical Pharmacology 7: 888–894.

[44] Awodele O, Adewoye AA and Oparah AC (2016) Assessment of medical waste management in seven hospitals in Lagos, Nigeria. BMC Public Health 16: 1–11.

[45] Pruss A, Girout E, Rushbrook P. (1999) Safer management of waste from healthcare activities. Geneva.