Year: 2023 | Month: November | Volume: 13 | Issue: 11 | Pages: 135-147
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijhsr.20231117
Medical Waste Management among Hospital Health Professionals in Beirut
Luna A. Yaacoub1, Georges N. Mezher2
1Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Lebanon
2Instructor, Department of Anesthesia and Reanimation, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Lebanese University, Lebanon
Corresponding Author: Dr. Georges Mezher
ABSTRACT
Background: Improper handling and disposal of medical wastes directly expose health workers to infectious diseases. The purpose of this research was to assess knowledge, perception, and practices of healthcare workers associated with medical waste management in six hospitals in Beirut, Lebanon.
Methodology: This is an observational cross-sectional study. Data was collected from 395 participants via a stratified random sampling method using a questionnaire providing information on the knowledge, perception, and practices regarding the waste management among the healthcare workers at the hospitals studied. Descriptive statistics analysis was used to assess the significance of the results.
Results: Findings revealed that there were significant differences in knowledge, perception, and practices of waste management among the five categories of health workers. Among the respondents approved (N=388); 57.7% have good knowledge, 61.3% have good perception, and 55.2% have good practices scores. Healthcare professionals have the highest knowledge (54.9%, p<0.001), perception (54.6%, p<0.001), and practices scores (55.1%, p<0.001). The clinical waste collectors and cleaners have the lowest knowledge (5.8%, p<0.001), perception (2.1%, p<0.001), and practices scores (13.6%, p<0.001).
Conclusion: The results reveal that hospital waste management is very poor among clinical waste collectors and cleaners. As a recommendation to improve this situation, all categories of healthcare workers in Lebanon should have ongoing training on medical waste management
Key words: Medical Waste Management, Healthcare waste, Healthcare worker, waste handlers, Knowledge, attitudes, practices.