Adherence to recommended hospital waste management practices by healthcare workers at Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital Kano, Nigeria

Abstract

Introduction: compliance with recommended hospital waste management among healthcare providers is important in the prevention of morbidity and mortality associated with hospital acquired infections, including the environment. A descriptive cross-sectional study aimed at determining the predictors of compliance with recommended hospital waste management by healthcare workers at Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital (MMSH), Kano State.

Methods: the study used a descriptive cross-sectional study that utilized mixed concurrent methods of data collection, consisting of survey questionnaire (quantitative) and in-depth interviews (qualitative). Simple Random sampling (quantitative) and purposeful sampling (qualitative) techniques were used to select consenting study participants viz: doctors, nurses, and other healthcare workers (medical laboratory scientists, community health extension workers, environmental health officers and hospital cleaners). Key informant interviews were conducted among some selected members of the hospital.

Results: the result showed that the age of the respondents ranged from 18 to 48 years, with a mean of 28.8 (STD; 5.12). Doctors 79%, Nurses 74%, and other healthcare workers 34% have good knowledge of hospital waste management. Waste management practice was 28%, 48% and 37% for the doctors, nurses, and other health care workers categories respectively. The overall compliance with recommended hospital waste management was found to be 41% in the study.

Conclusion: the study reveals lack of training and non-adherence to standard practices, which calls for adequate orientation of all healthcare workers on the standard practice of hospital and biomedical waste management in the hospital.