Healthcare Waste Generation Worldwide and Its Dependence on Socio-Economic and Environmental Factors

Abstract

This paper examines the dependence of the healthcare waste (HCW) generation rate on several social-economic and environmental parameters. Correlations were calculated between the quantities of healthcare waste generated (expressed in kg/bed/day) versus economic indices (GDP, healthcare expenditure per capita), social indices (HDI, IHDI, MPI, life expectancy, mean years of schooling, HIV prevalence, deaths due to tuberculosis and malaria, and under five mortality rate), and an environmental sustainability index (total CO 2 emissions) from 42 countries worldwide. The statistical analysis included the examination of the normality of the data and the formation of linear multiple regression models to further investigate the correlation between those indices and HCW generation rates. Pearson and Spearman correlation coefficients were also calculated for all pairwise comparisons. Results showed that the life expectancy, the HDI, the mean years of schooling and the CO 2 emissions positively affect the HCW generation rates and can be used as statistical predictors of those rates. The resulting best reduced regression model included the life expectancy and the CO 2 emissions and explained 85% of the variability of the response.

Healthcare Waste Management: A Case Study from Sudan

“…Nevertheless, any unseparated waste from HCFs should be treated as hazardous. In addition, the terminology of HCW is interpreted differently and HCW depends on socio-economic and environmental factors, which vary among countries [50,91,92]. For example, CO 2 emissions, life expectancy, and the Human Development Index (HDI) were found to be positively correlated with HCW generation [50].…”

“…According to the United Nations Development Programme [49], the Human Development Index of Sudan is 0.490 and it is ranked 165. Minoglou et al [50] reported that HCW generation depends on socio-economic and environmental factors. Therefore, all these socio-demographic and geopolitical factors have had a negative impact on the healthcare system in general and HCWM in particular, in Sudan.…”

How are End-of-Life Strategies Adopted in Product-Service Systems? A Systematic Review of General Cases and Cases of Medical Devices Industry

“…However, stronger than the aforementioned challenges for EoL strategies implementation, are the reasons why circular solutions should be adopted in this area. Minoglou et al (2017) emphasize how alarming the amount of waste produced by healthcare worldwide is, especially considering that this area is growing rapidly due to the increase of ageing populations, emerging markets and specific diseases (Landolfi et al, 2014). Furthermore, Yip et al (2015) and Fargnoli et al (2018) underline the lack of studies regarding the implementation of PSS in the medical devices area and remarked this subject as an important field for scientific investigation.…”

Tanzania 2019 Country Environmental Analysis

“…In 2007, the MoHSW estimated that approximately 4,745 metric tons were generated nationwide, with an estimated 0.41 kg per bed per day generated in the country's healthcare facilities (National Audit Office, 2014). For 2017, it was estimated that healthcare facilities generated approximately 0.75 kg per bed per day (Minoglou et al, 2017). The actual amounts are probably much higher, given that healthcare facilities often operate above full capacity.…”