Medical waste management and disposal practices of health facilities in Kumbo East and Kumbo West health districts

Abstract

The provision of healthcare generates waste which can be detrimental to health and the environment. Management of healthcare waste is still a challenge in developing countries as practices, capacities and policies on waste disposal are grossly inadequate and require intensification. With the growing trend of biomedical services in Kumbo Cameroon, the medical waste management practices in this area was investigated to generate data that could guide policy in planning for an effective and sustainable waste management program. A qualitative cross sectional study was conducted in 30 of the 52 health facilities in study area. Participating facilities were selected by convenience sampling and personnel by random sampling. Data was collected using questionnaires, interviews and direct field observations and results analyzed using SPSS V 17.0. P-values <0.05 were considered significant. Participants aware of the existence of a national policy guide on waste management were mostly administrators (66.7%). Only 2 (6.6%) health facilities had a copy of this document. None of the participating facilities kept records of their medical waste management practices. All participants were aware of the health risk of healthcare waste. Use of PPE varied among participants and was highest among employed waste handlers (EWH) (100%) and laboratory technicians (100%) while the lowest (69%) was among pharmacy attendants. Gloves were the most commonly used PPE. Most of the EWH (55.6%) used examination gloves which was inappropriate. Not all participants segregated or disinfected waste. Waste bins were not colour-coded and all facilities had appropriate safety boxes for sharps. In 86.7% of health facilities, waste disposal was by burning in pits located within 400 m away from the facility. These pits were not protected from scavengers. Only 4 facilities had incinerators and all did not meet the required standards, as none was equipped with a scrubber. Even after segregation at the point of generation, wastes were mixed at the point of final disposal. Waste management practices in study site did not meet standard practices. There is an urgent need for proper medical waste management in Kumbo East and Kumbo West to minimise threats to human health and the environment. Regular supervision and enforcement of policy on medical waste management is paramount.

Knowledge, attitude, and practice of waste handlers about medical waste management in Debre Markos town healthcare facilities, northwest Ethiopia

“…None of the study participants have used duty boots and 12.7% of them used simple latex gloves. This result was contradicted with the findings from Cameroon and Johor in which 100% of the MWHs used all the appropriate protective gears [31, 32] and the national regulations [19]. The possible explanation for this difference could be due to the lack of PPE supply and attention in the current study by the by the health facilities.…”

Experiences in Dealing with Medical Waste:A Meta-synthesis

“…Medical waste is different from household activity waste or other kinds of waste. Medical waste can contain various liquid products from a diseased human body that may contain germs, bacteria, or viruses that can be transmitted to others 21 . Therefore medical waste management should be viewed seriously by the management of hospitals or other health care institutions so that medical waste does not become a source of problems in the institution.…”

Health care waste management in community-based care: experiences of community health workers in low resource communities in South Africa

“…Globally, the management of health care waste poses a major environmental and public health challenge [1]. Health care waste (HCW) is all waste that is generated in health care facilities such as hospitals, clinics, pharmaceutical manufacturing plants, research laboratories, nursing homes and other settings like homes where there is care for a patient [2, 3].…”

“…Improper health care waste management (HCWM) has negative ramifications for a variety of people, including exposing the general public, health care workers, waste handlers, caregivers, patients, waste pickers and animals to injuries [1, 2]. In India, a study on HCWM revealed that more than 30% of the 3–6 billion injections that were administered every year, in almost 10 of the health care facilities nationwide, were done with used syringes recycled by unskilled scavengers who sold them on the black market [11].…”

“…In India, a study on HCWM revealed that more than 30% of the 3–6 billion injections that were administered every year, in almost 10 of the health care facilities nationwide, were done with used syringes recycled by unskilled scavengers who sold them on the black market [11]. Furthermore, CHWs, waste handlers and the general public who are exposed to HCW could be at risk of infection with hepatitis A, B and C [1, 12]. Exposure to HCW can cause diseases like diarrhoea, leptospirosis, typhoid, cholera, and HIV and tuberculosis (TB) all of which could cause death [2, 13].…”