Medical waste management practices among health workers as the way to reduce NOSOCOMIAL infections in Tanzania hospitals: a case of Bukombe district council hospital
No Thumbnail Available
Date
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Mzumbe University
Abstract
Description
A Research Proposal submitted in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the award of Masters Degree of Health Systems Management (MHSM) of Mzumbe University
The management of medical waste is a vital phenomenon because of its outcome that may harm the public health and the environment. This study aims to assess medical waste management practices among health workers as the way to reduce nosocomial infections in Tanzania hospitals. The study was conducted at Bukombe District Council hospital (BDCH). The data collections were done using questionnaires, observation and review of the documents. The findings revealed that: most of the health workers at Bukombe District Council Hospital (BDCH) have little knowledge of proper medical waste management practices. The results show 87 (65%) of the respondents acknowledged that health workers do not properly implement medical waste management practices. Instead the hospital uses a private company in medical waste management, laundry and cleaning services at hospital surroundings. In addition, 89 (66%) of respondents declared that no any training in medical waste management practices was conducted by health staff. Majority of respondents, 125(93%) declared that they did not have an access to governing law, policies, and guidelines for medical waste management practices. It was noted that no initiative had been in place for the dissemination of the laws, policies and guidelines pertaining to MWM practices at BDCH. This is evidence by 92.5%(124) who reported that the governing laws, policies and guidelines for Health Care Waste Management are neither disseminated nor in use by health staff at Bukombe District Council hospital. In concluding the results indicate that medical waste management practices at BDCH are not properly implemented. The possible cause is inadequate knowledge on MWM among health workers. The study recommends instituting more training, seminars and workshops to health staff cadres to equip them with the governing laws, policies and guidelines for MWM practices.
The management of medical waste is a vital phenomenon because of its outcome that may harm the public health and the environment. This study aims to assess medical waste management practices among health workers as the way to reduce nosocomial infections in Tanzania hospitals. The study was conducted at Bukombe District Council hospital (BDCH). The data collections were done using questionnaires, observation and review of the documents. The findings revealed that: most of the health workers at Bukombe District Council Hospital (BDCH) have little knowledge of proper medical waste management practices. The results show 87 (65%) of the respondents acknowledged that health workers do not properly implement medical waste management practices. Instead the hospital uses a private company in medical waste management, laundry and cleaning services at hospital surroundings. In addition, 89 (66%) of respondents declared that no any training in medical waste management practices was conducted by health staff. Majority of respondents, 125(93%) declared that they did not have an access to governing law, policies, and guidelines for medical waste management practices. It was noted that no initiative had been in place for the dissemination of the laws, policies and guidelines pertaining to MWM practices at BDCH. This is evidence by 92.5%(124) who reported that the governing laws, policies and guidelines for Health Care Waste Management are neither disseminated nor in use by health staff at Bukombe District Council hospital. In concluding the results indicate that medical waste management practices at BDCH are not properly implemented. The possible cause is inadequate knowledge on MWM among health workers. The study recommends instituting more training, seminars and workshops to health staff cadres to equip them with the governing laws, policies and guidelines for MWM practices.
Keywords
Medical waste management, Waste management-health