Abstract
Background Mismanagement of healthcare waste (HCW) during the COVID-19 pandemic can facilitate the transmission of coronavirus. Regarding this problem, there is gap of evidence in Ethiopia, and this study aimed to assess the HCW generation rate and management in Tepi General Hospital, southwest Ethiopia. Methods Institution-based cross-sectional and case studies were conducted. The total amount of waste generated and its type among various case teams were compared using the Kruskal–Wallis test. Spearman's rank correlation coefficient (r) was used to assess the correlation between the total numbers of patients and the total amount of HCW generated. Qualitative data were transcribed verbatim, translated to English, and analyzed with Open Code version 4.02 software, and content analysis was followed. Results The total mean weight (±SD) of waste generation rate in all service units of the hospital was 492.5 ± 11.5 kg/day. The higher proportion (61.9%) of the total HCW produced was general waste and the remaining (38.1%) was hazardous waste. There was a statistically significant (X2 = 82.1, p < 0.001) difference in daily HCW generation rate among different case teams. Similarly, the hospital waste generation amount and total patient flow had a strong positive linear relationship (r = 0.7, p=0.032). COVID-19-related medical wastes were not properly handled, segregated, stored, and disposed. There was a scarcity of resources needed to manage HCW, and available resources were utilized poorly. Overall, healthcare wastes were managed as usual (pre-COVID-19). Conclusion The mean HCW generation rate in Tepi General Hospital was high. Overall, wastes were mismanaged, and COVID-19-related HCWs have been managed as usual. Availing of important resources and training the concerned bodies should be considered during the crisis of COVID-19.
Highlights
Healthcare waste (HCW) is a collection of waste generated by healthcare establishments, research facilities, laboratories, and home-based healthcare such as dialysis and insulin injection
Institution-based cross-sectional and case studies were conducted in Tepi General Hospital from July 1 to 30, 2020. e hospital is found in Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People’s Region State, and it is one of the newly constructed hospitals in Southern Ethiopia
E highest amount ((48.2%) 237.3 kg/day) of the hospital waste was generated from the kitchen room, whereas that of the lowest amount ((0.9%) 4.3 kg/day) was generated in the radiology room. e Kruskal–Wallis test indicated a statistically significant (X2 82.1, p < 0.001) difference in daily healthcare waste generation rate among different case teams. is implies that the type or specialty of case teams was a factor for the generation rate of HCWs
Summary
Healthcare waste (HCW) is a collection of waste generated by healthcare establishments, research facilities, laboratories, and home-based healthcare such as dialysis and insulin injection. HCW can be classified as hazardous (healthcare risk) and nonhazardous (general) waste. Hazardous HCW contains potentially harmful microorganisms that can infect hospital communities and the general public. It may be a source for drug-resistant microorganisms that spread from health facilities into the environment. E current pandemic of coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) brings an additional challenge in the waste management of healthcare facilities. Mismanagement of healthcare waste (HCW) during the COVID-19 pandemic can facilitate the transmission of coronavirus. Regarding this problem, there is gap of evidence in Ethiopia, and this study aimed to assess the HCW generation rate and management in Tepi General Hospital, southwest Ethiopia. Availing of important resources and training the concerned bodies should be considered during the crisis of COVID-19
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