Abstract
ABSTRACT Objective: to identify the knowledge of nursing professionals at pediatric inpatient units about waste management of health services. Method: this descriptive, exploratory research was developed at two inpatient units of a children's hospital in Southern Brazil. Data collection was carried out between July and August 2014 through questionnaires to 30 nursing team professionals. The data were analyzed in a quantitative and qualitative perspective. Results: the results show that few professionals at the investigated institution know the Health Service Waste Management Program. The majority performs care related to the waste, but does not participate in training on the subject. Conclusion: the training of nursing professionals is critical for the effectiveness of the waste management program at the health institution, favoring proper disposal, facilitating the collection and contributing to environmental preservation.
Highlights
Health Service Waste (HSW) is any waste resulting from patient care at home and at public and private institutions
The Brazilian National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA) regulates and guides the elaboration of a Health Service Waste Management Program (HSWMP), through Collegiate Board Directive 306/04, in which each institution that produces HSW should elaborate a plan for the management, segregation, conditioning, collection, storage, transportation and final disposal of the waste produced.[4]
Among the 30 nursing professionals who participated in the study, 27 were women (90%) and three men (10%)
Summary
Health Service Waste (HSW) is any waste resulting from patient care at home and at public and private institutions. In Brazil, each day, 149,000 tons of domestic and commercial waste are produced, one to three percent of which is HSW Of this total, only between 10 and 25% needs special treatment.[1] A large amount of waste produced and handled in health care is considered high-risk and, when managed inappropriately, it can affect people’s health and cause environmental damage.[2] In a way, due to the characteristic of its activity, the hospital should be considered as an environment that makes the transmission and dissemination of illnesses possible, entailing potential risks for the different communities that make up the natural habitat on our planet.[3]. A structured and active program avoids illnesses, promotes the diagnosis of problems and permits early intervention.[5]
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