Abstract

BackgroundHealthcare wastes are hazardous organic and inorganic wastes. The waste disposal management in Addis Ababa city is seen unscientific manner. The waste management practice in the health facilities are poor and need improvement. This study will help different organizations, stakeholders and policy makers to correct and improve the existing situation of healthcare waste legislation and enforcement and training of staff in the healthcare facilities in Addis Ababa. The study aimed to assess the existing generation and management practice of healthcare waste in selected government health centers of Addis Ababa.MethodsThe cross-sectional study was conducted to quantify waste generation rate and evaluate its management system. The study area was Addis Ababa. The sample size was determined by simple random sampling technique, the sampling procedure involved 10 sub-cities of Addis Ababa. Data were collected using both waste collecting and measuring equipment and check list. The Data was entered by EPI INFO version 6.04d and analyzed by and SPSS for WINDOW version15.ResultsThe mean (±SD) healthcare waste generation rate was 9.61 ± 3.28 kg/day of which (38%) 3.64 ± 1.45 kg/day was general or non-hazardous waste and (62%) 5.97 ± 2.31 kg/day was hazardous. The mean healthcare waste generation rate between health centers was a significant different with Kurskal-Wallis test (χ2 = 21.83, p-value = 0.009). All health centers used safety boxes for collection of sharp wastes and all health centers used plastic buckets without lid for collection and transportation of healthcare waste. Pre treatment of infectious wastes was not practiced by any of the health centers. All health centers used incinerators and had placenta pit for disposal of pathological waste however only seven out of ten pits had proper covering material.ConclusionSegregation of wastes at point of generation with appropriate collection materials and pre- treatment of infectious waste before disposal should be practiced. Training should be given to healthcare workers and waste handlers. Incinerators must be constructed in a manner that facilitates complete combustion and the lining of placenta pit should be constructed in water tight material.

Highlights

  • Healthcare wastes are hazardous organic and inorganic wastes

  • This study focus on the health center (HC) because they are the primary health care unites in the city

  • Waste Generation rate Daily Healthcare wastes (HCW) generation in health centers The mean (±SD) healthcare waste generation rate was 9.61 ± 3.28 kg/day, of which 3.64 ± 1.45 kg/day (38%) was general waste and 5.97 ± 2.31 kg/day (62%) was hazardous waste

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Summary

Introduction

Healthcare wastes are hazardous organic and inorganic wastes. The waste disposal management in Addis Ababa city is seen unscientific manner. The study aimed to assess the existing generation and management practice of healthcare waste in selected government health centers of Addis Ababa. In developing countries such as Ethiopia the international or local policy that generator of waste is responsible for the proper management, treatment and disposal of waste has remained on paper and is yet to be implemented. There are different estimates regarding the share of general and hazardous constituents of health care waste generation This may be the segregation of healthcare waste at point of generation is weak in health facilities and assumed these wastes are non-contaminated and pose no risk of infection. Another assumption is the limitation of existing facilities, lack of adequate institutional arrangements, operation insufficiency, local authorities inefficiency in performing their task effectively are some points for the poor management but few take proper care of their waste

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