Toward Sustainable Environmental Management of Healthcare Waste: A Holistic Perspective

Alharbi, Nouf; Alhaji, Jwaher Haji; Qattan, Malak Yahia

doi:10.3390/su13095280

Cited by 21 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…The health sector is increasingly generating waste in the process of controlling diseases and treating patients ( Kenny and Priyadarshini, 2021 ). HCW highly affects environmental sustainability, the health of patients and health workers, and public health ( Alharbi and Alhaji, 2021 , Doylo et al., 2019 ). Following its deleterious impacts, HCW requires proper management, treatment and disposal strategies to reduce its harmful impacts ( Alam and Mosharraf, 2020 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Healthcare waste management in the Tamale Central Hospital, northern Ghana. An assessment before the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic in Ghana

Abanyie¹,

Amuah²,

Douti³

et al. 2021

Environmental Challenges

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Healthcare waste (HCW) poses several environmental and public health challenges. However, much attention has not been given to its management. The present study sought to assess the healthcare waste management (HCWM) practices in the Tamale Central Hospital (TCH) by characterizing and measuring the quantities of waste generated and the associated implications. Observation of the value chain of healthcare waste management, waste quantification using a weighing scale (Top-pan-spring balance), and semi-structured interviews were used in the data collection. The study revealed that, except for sharps, there was no segregation of infectious and non-infectious waste, and healthcare waste was not treated before final disposal. The study showed that a daily record of 5.1 kg of sharps, 24.46 kg of infectious waste and 59.45 kg of general waste was generated. The maternity ward produced more general waste (14 kg), whereas the theatre generated the highest infectious waste (5.70 kg) and sharps (0.8 kg) daily. Generally, the maternity ward recorded the highest daily waste generation of 17.9 kg. The waste treatment method available in the hospital was incineration. However, the incinerator was found to be dysfunctional. Thus, an improvised method (dug pit) was used irrespective of the associated health and environmental implications. The study also revealed that the hospital did not quantify the amount of solid waste that was generated. Inadequate finance and lack of supervision were linked to the problem of poor healthcare waste management in the study area. Also, 82% of the workers mentioned that there was poor HCW segregation at the departments whereas 76% of the patients who received healthcare at the facility were unsatisfied with the HCWM practices. A strong linear relationship in the responses made was recorded. The healthcare waste management index showed that the HCWM practice at the facility was unsatisfactory as it was medium-ranked. The study, therefore, recommends that the hospital considers constructing an on-site waste treatment facility, segregate and quantify waste for effective allocation of resources for treating healthcare waste.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Healthcare waste management in the Tamale Central Hospital, northern Ghana. An assessment before the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic in Ghana

Abanyie¹,

Amuah²,

Douti³

et al. 2021

Environmental Challenges

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“…First, as stated earlier, hospitals are a significant pollutant. In the case of developing countries, hospitals are blamed for producing a large amount of solid waste, including plastic, glass, metal, food, and others [ 31 ]. Unfortunately, this waste ends up in landfills without any recycling.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Improving the Environmental Footprint through Employees: A Case of Female Leaders from the Perspective of CSR

Wei

Sial

Zhou

et al. 2021

IJERPH

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Environmental quality strongly depends on human behavior patterns. Many environmental challenges are rooted in human actions, and thus, it is believed that these problems can be reduced through the promotion of pro-environmental behaviors (PB). Owing to this reality, the current study aims to reduce the environmental footprint of a hospital by promoting its employees’ environment-specific behavior via corporate social responsibility (CSR) and ethical leadership (EL). More importantly, the study also considered the role of female leaders in the proposed relationship. The current study collected the data from the respondents employed in different hospitals of a developing economy through a questionnaire (paper-pencil method). A total of 489 valid responses were collected, which were analyzed by employing the structural equation modeling (SEM) technique. As per the current study’s findings, there is a positive relationship between CSR, while EL mediates between CSR and PB. Likewise, the moderating role of female leaders in the proposed relationship was more significant than that of male leaders. More specifically, the study’s findings have considerable theoretical and practical implications, as it opens paths for researchers to further investigate the applicability of different dimensions of CSR and the role of gender in environmental sustainability. It provides insight to policymakers on how to restructure their CSR preferences, priorities on the environment, and gender differences.

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“…Sustainability could be achieved in developing countries through environmental attitude, awareness, and knowledge, which can be communicated to teachers and students through formal education [7]. Sustainable healthcare waste management practices can be achieved by integrating social responsibility within the waste policy, enhancing employee awareness, adding a training component, developing programs, and promoting sustainable practices' environmental and economic benefits [27]. Thus, as per the authors, sustainable healthcare waste management requires a holistic approach involving various parties, including policymakers, government and nongovernment organizations, and the community.…”

Section: Sustainable Hospital Waste Managementmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sustainable Hospital Waste Management Practices in the Western Province of Sri Lanka: Problems and Prospects

Fernando,

Rushan

2024

Adv Environ Eng Res

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Ensuring the sustainability of hospital waste management practices has become a burning issue. Due to the growing population coinciding with rapid urbanization and industrialization, practicing sustainable methods of medical waste management is an urgent requirement. Like other developing countries, Sri Lanka also faces various difficulties when dealing with high-risk hospital waste material, spreading diseases rapidly and making the environment unclean. Thus, moving towards sustainable hospital waste management has received urgent attention. The primary purpose of this study is to explore whether the existing hospital waste management practices are sustainable. Further, this study identifies weaknesses of the existing waste management practices and examines factors affecting Sustainable Hospital Waste Management (SHWM) in the Western province of Sri Lanka. Data were collected from 18 officers involved in waste management from 14 government hospitals in the western province. Both inductive and deductive thematic analyses were used to explore whether the hospital waste management practices are sustainable. The study revealed that most selected hospitals failed to achieve sustainability in waste management practices. Achieving sustainability of waste management practices has become a challenge to government hospitals due to financial constraints, limited facilities and infrastructure, lack of social support, and poor management and administration. Patient mindset and health capacity, positive attitudes, knowledge, awareness, and experience, training on hospital waste management, availability of basic infrastructure and resources, financial facilities for hospital waste management, availability of rules and regulations, and intra and inter-organizational supports significantly affect sustainable hospital waste management. Exploring the sustainability of waste management practices using empirical data related to Sri Lanka is an initial attempt in the sustainable hospital waste management literature. Finally, policy measures are suggested for sustainable hospital waste management in Sri Lanka.

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Toward Sustainable Environmental Management of Healthcare Waste: A Holistic Perspective

Cited by 21 publications

References 31 publications

Healthcare waste management in the Tamale Central Hospital, northern Ghana. An assessment before the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic in Ghana

Healthcare waste management in the Tamale Central Hospital, northern Ghana. An assessment before the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic in Ghana

Improving the Environmental Footprint through Employees: A Case of Female Leaders from the Perspective of CSR

Sustainable Hospital Waste Management Practices in the Western Province of Sri Lanka: Problems and Prospects

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