Management of solid waste in two hospitals in Baghdad-Iraq

Abstract

This study was conducted to examine medical waste management practices in two governmental hospitals in Baghdad, which disposed of its medical waste by incineration. Simple observational, cross-sectional study was conducted as a case study approach of Baghdad Educational Hospital and Sheikh Zayed General Hospital, for the period from 28 Oct.2018 to 5 May 2019. The data were collected through a pre-designed questionnaire with a checklist. The study showed that segregation of the medical waste into hazardous and nonhazardous waste was done in both the hospitals. For nonhazardous waste, disposal through Municipal Corporation was conducted, while all other kind of medical wastes were burnt. Hospital waste segregation, collection, transportation & disposal practices were not in accordance with standard guidelines of the developed countries. A majority of medical solid waste in both the hospitals under study was mismanaged. The workers handling the transport, segregation, and disposal of waste were provided with gloves and masks along with other special equipment like leg protectors, boots and aprons. No color coded practices were observed in both hospitals. The janitors and sanitary staff were immunized against common communicable diseases. Our recommendation for further studies is to find alternatives and appropriate technologies for disposal of medical solid waste in Baghdad hospitals.