Abstract
The use of health indicators is indispensable for understanding the complex relationship between the environmental and health fields. For the proposition of environmental health indicators, the Brazilian Ministry of Health (MH) recommends using a model proposed by the World Health Organization. This model is composed of the following elements: Driving Force, Pressure, State, Exposure, Effect, and Action; it is called the DPSEEA model. The objective of this study is to propose the application of this model in healthcare waste (HCW) management. This study was performed by documentary research using two data sources: a) technical reports on research on HCW from the last 15 years (outpatient, dental, hospital, veterinary, university, and primary care unit) at the University of Caxias do Sul, Brazil; and b) the MH manual entitled "Environmental Health: Basic Guide for the Construction of Indicators". The results show that the model is relevant because it makes it possible to analyse a particular context, proposing indicators and defining specific actions for the case of this study, to monitor and improve methods of managing HCW. The results also show that the proposed model is an important analytical tool for both medical waste management and planning actions that will minimize risks, particularly chemical and biological, resulting in environmental health and protection.
Highlights
The productive processes of work and consumption influence the state of human and environmental health
Addressing the subject of environmental health, the Brazilian Ministry of Health (MH)[1] states that the means of production and of social and economic development interfere in ecosystems, which are determinants of and contributors to changes in the patterns and levels of population health
The generation and management of waste generated in healthcare may lead to risks for both those directly involved in health services and users, their families, and society as a whole if these wastes are inadequately disposed of in the environment[2]
Summary
The productive processes of work and consumption influence the state of human and environmental health. Addressing the subject of environmental health, the Brazilian Ministry of Health (MH)[1] states that the means of production and of social and economic development interfere in ecosystems, which are determinants of and contributors to changes in the patterns and levels of population health. This interference results in changes in the epidemiological and morbidity-mortality profile due to the exposure of humans to different and altered environments. The generation and management of waste generated in healthcare may lead to risks for both those directly involved in health services and users, their families, and society as a whole if these wastes are inadequately disposed of in the environment[2]
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