AWARENESS AND PRACTICE OF EFFECTIVE HEALTH CARE WASTE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AMONG HEALTH CARE PERSONNEL AT VICTORIA HOSPITAL, EKWULOBIA, ANAMBRA STATE

CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background of the Study Healthcare waste (HCW) refers to the waste materials generated by medical facilities such as hospitals, clinics, health centers, pharmaceutical production units, medical research organizations, blood banks, pharmacies, and even in-home healthcare practices. This waste is broadly categorized into two groups: general (non-hazardous) waste and hazardous waste (Fasola et al., 2018). Hospitals, as public institutions, deliver a wide range of health services to the community. These services include curative, preventive, rehabilitative, and patient care, along with the promotion of health education. Healthcare institutions carry the responsibility of safeguarding public health—both through direct treatment of patients and indirectly by ensuring a clean and safe environment for their staff, patients, and surrounding communities (Patil & Pokhrel, 2015). All the waste products generated by medical and health research facilities, as well as their associated laboratories, are collectively referred to as health care waste (HCW) (Onursal, 2017). HCW includes any solid or liquid waste material that can pose an infectious risk to humans. This includes waste from health-related settings such as hospitals (engaged in diagnosis, treatment, or immunization of humans), clinics, dental offices, laboratories, blood banks, veterinary hospitals, medical research institutions, and other related medical environments (Sreegiri & Babu, 2019). Due to its potentially infectious or toxic nature, hospital waste represents a particularly dangerous category of waste. Moreover, the improper handling of this waste can directly expose healthcare workers, waste handlers, and even the public to serious health hazards. While different institutions may apply different waste management strategies, the fundamental challenges remain similar across all healthcare settings—spanning all stages such as segregation, collection, packaging, storage, transportation, treatment, and eventual disposal (Fluke, 2017). In confronting these hazards, members of the healthcare workforce form the first line of defense. If that frontline fails, the consequences can be severe. Thus, effective healthcare waste management cannot be achieved without the active involvement of nurses, doctors, cleaners, and other relevant staff within the hospital system. Waste segregation must begin at the point of generation. Therefore, every healthcare worker must have a sound understanding of the different categories of medical waste, their associated risks, and the appropriate disposal methods (Goddu, Duvvuri & Bakki, 2017; Pasupathi, Sindhu, Ponnusha & Ambika, 2016). There is a common misconception that medical waste management is limited to disposal technologies like incineration and other treatment methods. This assumption is inaccurate. Proper healthcare waste management begins with establishing a well-structured system that supports efficient waste handling and treatment. The dangers associated with medical waste do not only stem from accumulation or improper treatment, but also from the risk of disease transmission—long before it reaches treatment stages like incineration (Mohammed, 2019). For sustainable waste handling, it is essential to continually monitor the behaviors and practices of healthcare workers. Depending on the scale of the healthcare facility, this responsibility typically lies with a designated healthcare waste management officer or a committee formed for that purpose. Often, the same individuals overseeing nosocomial (hospital-acquired) infections also serve on the healthcare waste management committee. To ensure best practices are upheld consistently, regular training and sensitization workshops must be conducted for all staff (Aukour, 2018; Fasola et al., 2018). 1.2 Statement of the Study In urban areas, the issue of healthcare waste management has become a growing concern. In many developing countries, waste is still disposed of indiscriminately, often mixed with regular municipal solid waste—thereby posing significant health and environmental hazards (Aukour, 2018). When hazardous waste is not separated from non-hazardous waste, the entire batch must be treated as hazardous waste. However, in many low-income countries like Nigeria, adequate regulations and enforcement mechanisms for hazardous waste disposal are either lacking or poorly implemented. Infectious waste handling remains an overlooked public health issue in several developing nations, resulting in a significant level of environmental pollution and increased health risks to the general population (Fasola, 2018). Common challenges include insufficient training on proper waste handling, lack of structured waste disposal systems, inadequate funding and personnel, and the generally low prioritization of this issue within the healthcare sector. Hence, it becomes essential to explore and evaluate the level of knowledge and actual practices related to healthcare waste management among medical personnel at Victoria Hospital in Ekwulobia, Anambra State. 1.3 Purpose of study The primary objective of the study is to investigate the awareness and practice of effective health care waste management practices among health care personnel at victoria hospital, Ekwulobia, Anambra state. Other specific objectives are as follows: 1.To examine if Victoria Hospital have waste management department. 2.To find out if health care personnel at Victoria Hospital Ekwulobia, Anambra state have knowledge related to waste management. 3.To investigate if personnel at Victoria Hospital Ekwulobia, Anambra state practice proper health care waste management. 4.To investigate the different waste management practices adopted at Victoria Hospital Ekwulobia, Anambra state 5.To evaluate the challenges faced by health care personnel at Victoria Hospital Ekwulobia, Anambra state in disposing off of health care waste. 1.4 Research questions The following questions have been prepared for the study 1. Does Victoria Hospital have waste management department? 2. Does health care personnel at Victoria Hospital Ekwulobia, Anambra state have knowledge related to waste management? 3. Does personnel at Victoria Hospital Ekwulobia, Anambra state practice proper health care waste management? 4. What are the waste management practices adopted at Victoria Hospital Ekwulobia, Anambra state? 5. What are the challenges faced by health care at Victoria Hospital Ekwulobia, Anambra state personnel in disposing off of health care waste? 1.5 Research Hypotheses The following hypothesis have been formulated for the study H0: health care personnel at Victoria Hospital Ekwulobia, Anambra state do not have knowledge of proper health care waste management. HA: health care personnel at Victoria Hospital Ekwulobia, Anambra state does have knowledge of proper health care waste management HO: health care personnel at Victoria Hospital Ekwulobia, Anambra state do not practice proper health care waste management. HA: health care personnel at Victoria Hospital Ekwulobia, Anambra state does practice proper health care waste management. 1.6 Significance of the study This study will examine practice of proper health care waste management by health care personnel at Victoria Hospital Ekwulobia, Anambra state. Hence this study will be significant in the following ways: Hospital Management Board: This research will be valuable to the hospital management board as it will highlight the importance of making available the essential tools and equipment required for the effective disposal of healthcare waste materials. In addition, it will draw their attention to the critical need for organizing training programs for hospital staff on the proper and safe methods of disposing healthcare waste. The findings of the study will serve as a guide for the management to prioritize both the provision of disposal facilities and capacity-building for personnel in order to ensure efficient healthcare waste management within the hospital environment. Government: The significance of this study also extends to the government, as it will serve as a motivating factor for the authorities to reinforce and empower the appropriate agencies tasked with the responsibility of supervising and ensuring proper healthcare waste disposal. Through the insights gained from the study, the government will recognize the necessity of enhancing regulatory oversight, providing adequate support to waste management institutions, and formulating stronger policies to ensure public health and environmental safety. Academia: this study will be significant to the academic community as it will contribute to the existing literature on hospital waste management. 1.7 Scope of study This study will examine if Victoria Hospital have waste management department. The study will also evaluate the challenges faced by health care personnel in disposing off of health care waste. The study will further find out if health care personnel have knowledge related to waste management. Lastly, the study will investigate the Practice of proper health care waste management by health care personnels at Victoria Hospital Ekwulobia, Anambra state. Hence the study will be delimited to Victoria hospital Ekwulobia, Anambra state. 1.9Definition of terms Knowledge: facts, information, and skills acquired through experience or education; the theoretical or practical understanding of a subject Practice: the actual application or use of an idea, belief, or method, as opposed to theories relating to it Health care: the organized provision of medical care to individuals or a community Waste management: collection, transport, treatment and disposal of waste Health care personnel: physicians, nurses, physician assistants, emergency medical technicians-basic, emergency medical technicians-intermediate, emergency medical technicians-paramedic, medical technicians, dietitians, other authorized persons acting under the direction of an attending physician.