Pattern of Medical Waste Management in Secondary Health Facilities of Lagos State.

Abstract

Background: Waste or by-products generated during the process of health-care activities (diagnosis, treatment, immunization, production or testing of biologicals) from hospitals, laboratories, research centres and blood banks are referred to as medical waste. Medical waste management (MWM) involves waste segregation, colourcoding, storage, transportation, treatment and disposal practices.
Objective: This study assessed the pattern of MWM in secondary health facilities in Lagos State.
Methods: A descriptive cross sectional study of 106 secondary health facilities selected using a multi-stage sampling method. Quantitative and qualitative data was collected using interviewer-administered questionnaire and an observational checklist. The data was analysed using Epi-info 2002. Fisher's exact test was used to determine association between dependent and independent variables. Level of significance was set at 5%.
Results: Seventy-three (68.9%) of the health facilities segregated medical waste at source, larger health facilities were more likely to segregate wastes (p=0.002) and 95.3% stored their waste for more than 48 hours. In all of the health facilities gloves were used while 31.1% used masks as personal protective devices when handling waste. Lagos State Waste Management Authority medical unit was responsible for transporting medical waste out in 89.6% of the health facilities. Only 6.6% of the storage process was according to the World Health Organization guidelines.
Conclusion: Secondary health facilities in Lagos state did not comply with the WHO guidelines as regards segregation, transportation, treatment and off-site disposal. MWM needs to be improved to ensure a safe and sustainable system in Lagos State.

Keywords: Medical waste, Waste management, Health care waste.