This study aimed to analyze the management of waste generated by home care. Data were collected through observation of care provided by professionals and users and/or caregivers. Data were recorded on a checklist developed according to the recommendations of RDC 306. The following wastes were generated: syringes (38.1%), needles (36.5%), adhesive plasters (31.7%), gauze (31.7%) and lancets (28.5%). The residues of group A were not segregated in all opportunities and group E were segregated 100% and 10.5% by professionals and users, respectively. It is concluded that, given the inadequacies found, wide collective discussion is required for the proposal of public policies that address the specific waste management of home health services, aiming to provide safety to workers, community and the environment.

Objective: to analyze waste management in urgency and emergency non-hospital health care service units. Method: Epidemiological cross-sectional study undertaken at three NonHospital Emergency Units. The data were collected using systematic observation, registered daily in a spreadsheet and checklist, and analyzed through descriptive statistics. Results: the generation of waste varied from 0.087 to 0.138 kg per patient per day. Waste management showed inadequacies in all stages, especially in the separation stage. Infectious waste was found together with common waste, preventing recycling, and piercing and cutting objects were mixed with waste from different groups, increasing the risk of occupational accidents. Conclusion: the study reveals the lack of an institutional waste management policy, as demonstrated by the failure of operational stages, involving problems related to management, physical structure, material and human resources at the units. This is relevant for health care units, considering the quality of patient care and its interface with sustainability. Manejo de residuos en las unidades no hospitalarias de urgencia y emergenciaObjetivo: analizar la gestión de los residuos en unidades hospitalarias de emergencias y urgencias. Método: estudio epidemiológico. Los datos fueron recolectados por observación sistemática, registrados diariamente en una hoja de cálculo y check list y analizados mediante estadística descriptiva. Resultados: la generación de residuos varió desde 0,087 hasta 0,138 kg / usuario / día. La gestión de los residuos mostró deficiencias en todas las etapas, especialmente en la segregación. Fueron encontrados residuos infecciosos añadidos a los comunes, invalidando el reciclaje, así como materiales punzantes y cortantes mezclados con los diferentes grupos, amentando el riesgo de accidentes de trabajo. Conclusión: el estudio revela la ausencia de una política institucional para la gestión de los residuos, como lo demuestran las fallas en las medidas operacionales, que implican problemas de gestión, estructura física, recursos materiales y humanos de las unidades. Muestra relevancia para los servicios de salud en lo que se refiere a la calidad del servicio para el usuario y su interfaz con la sostenibilidad.

A large number of users are serviced in primary health care units in Brazil, both in health facilities and in households. These services generate waste that must be managed safely, but there is no legislation that regulates this type of waste management in Brazil. The objective of this study was to analyse the production and management of waste in primary health care. A direct observation was performed of the stages in the handling and weighing of waste generated in primary health care units in the municipality of Goiânia (Brazil). The units generated infectious, chemical, and common waste, as well as sharp objects. The generation of waste ranged between 0.027 and 0.075 kg user-day. The generated waste was classified mostly as common and recyclable. Flaws were observed in the management of all types of waste. The critical point is segregation. Only 34.1% of the waste disposed of as infectious actually belonged to this group, the rest was ordinary waste. Flaws at this stage increase the volume of infectious waste, the occupational and environmental risks, and associated costs. Intervention to change this reality is needed and it requires the careful preparation of a waste management plan, corroborating structural changes to the implementation of this plan, and professional training and public policies to guide waste management in primary care, especially those generated in households.

RESUMO Considerando os riscos ocupacionais e a importância das medidas preventivas nos serviços de atenção básica em saúde, realizou-se essa investigação com o objetivo de avaliar a adesão dos profissionais de enfermagem aos equipamentos de proteção individual (EPI) e à higiene das mãos (HM). Este estudo é epidemiológico e transversal e a coleta de dados foi realizada com os profissionais da equipe de enfermagem que atuam nas unidades de um distrito sanitário do município de Goiânia, mediante observação direta, não participante, com uso de check list e um questionário, no período de janeiro a maio de 2010. Foram avaliados, em 280 horas de observação, 149 procedimentos realizados por 28 profissionais. A análise dos dados ocorreu por meio de estatística descritiva, utilizando-se frequência simples. Os dados foram apresentados em forma de tabelas. Verificou-se adesão insuficiente à HM e aos EPIs. Foram encontrados baixos índices de adesão aos procedimentos recomendados, o que indica um comportamento inadequado à atenção em saúde, colocando em risco o trabalhador e o usuário. Nas unidades estudadas são necessárias ações educativas e de gestão para uma maior adesão às precauções padrão.