Knowledge, Perceptions and Practices Regarding Household Biomedical Waste in an Urban Area of Metropolitan City

Abstract

Background and Aim Biomedical waste generated annually in hospitals is around three million tonnes which is expected to grow by eight percent every year. Household biomedical waste which contributes to about 0.5 of the medical wastes can be a potential source of infection. This study was aimed to assess the knowledge perceptions and practices regarding household biomedical waste.Method A cross-sectional study was carried out including the households in the field practice area of a medical college from June to August 2017. A pretested semi-structured questionnaire was used to assess the knowledge perceptions and practices regarding biomedical waste generated at home.Results Among 450 households included in the study only 75 16.6 demonstrated adequate knowledge regarding household biomedical waste. Among them only 15 20 segregated the household biomedical waste. However the final disposal was done into the municipality binvan.Conclusion Regulatory bodies should consider household biomedical waste as hazardous waste and regulations for its disposal should be taken account into the biomedical waste management rules. Stakeholders have a major role in providing options for safe management making safe disposal a reality.nbsp