Types of biomedical waste management and factors associated with biomedical waste management practices among healthcare personnel at Mbagathi Hospital Nairobi County, Kenya

Abstract

Medical care is vital for life and health, but the waste generated from medical activities presents a problem to human health. Mbagathi Hospital generates 210-341kg infectious and highly infectious waste per day.This study determinedfactors associated with biomedical waste management practices among healthcare personnel at Mbagathi Hospital, Nairobi County. Descriptive cross sectional study employingmixed method to gather relevant data. Stratified sampling was used to sample195 healthcare personnel as study subject. Quantitative data were collected using structured self- administered questionnaires and analysed using Statistical Package for Social Scientists version 20 (SPSS)while focused group discussions guide was used for qualitative data which were analysed thematically. Descriptive analysis was used to summarise the data and association between variable were tested using chi-square, multivariate and bivariate statistical test.P-values were considered significant at < 0.05.Among the surveyed healthcare personnel, the mean age (±SD) was 31.9 (7.5) years, (86.2%) had tertiary level education and(48.7%) were nurses. Significantvoluminouswaste was generated: (96.9%) sharps, (91.3%) pharmaceutical, (90.3%) pathological, (81%) kitchen, (68.7%) incineration ash while the least produced waste reported (64.6%) radioactive wastes. Significant number of study participants (22.6%) had inadequate knowledge on biomedical waste management, Sanitary staff scored significantly low (71.4%) with regards to the knowledge of biomedical waste management compared to other healthcare personnel (P =0.001), 31% of study participant did not know when to seal safety bins.28.2 %, 3.1% of the study participants disagreed and strongly disagreed respectively on proper management of the biomedical waste at the facility (P=0.005). 6.7%had not agreed on recommended practices on biomedical waste management at the hospital(P =0.001).Uses of biomedical waste bins was significantly associated with practicing recommended biomedical waste management. Waste generated at various departments are source of infection that healthcare personnel and patient are exposed to and variation of knowledge among healthcare personnel is an indication of inadequate knowledge as far as biomedical waste management is concerned.Periodic sensitization of staff using existing friendly channel to convey messages and environmental and occupation health unit to be incorporated in all curriculum for early exposure so as to address concern arising from biomedical waste management in health facilities.