Muluken Azage
Background: Some types of healthcare wastes pose a risk on human health as well as contaminate the environment. Healthcare wastes management practice in many developing countries have given less attention by healthcare workers and healthcare managers. Objective: The aim of the present study was to assess healthcare waste management practices among healthcare workers in healthcare facilities of Gondar town. Method: A cross sectional study was employed to describe healthcare waste management practices of healthcare workers from April to May 2011. A total of 260 healthcare workers from 11 healthcare facilities were included in this study using simple random sampling technique. A semi structured questionnaire and observational check list were used to collect data. Data were entered and analyzed using SPSS version 16. Results: From the assessment done 31.5% of the respondents had a health care waste management practices. Knowledge on types of healthcare waste (OR: 6.36: 95%CI: 1.71, 23.63) and diseases transmission with healthcare waste (OR: 5.19; 95% CI: 2.23, 12.07) and training (OR: 2.29; 95%CI: 1.24, 4.24) were significantly associated with healthcare waste management practices of healthcare workers. Segregation of waste was not practiced in the surveyed healthcare facilities. None of the healthcare facilities had colored coded containers and healthcare waste management documents. Conclusion: Majority of healthcare workers did not practice healthcare wastes management. Hence, providing adequate numbers of waste bins, regular training and supervision on healthcare waste management are recommended to improve the problems of poor management of healthcare wastes.
