EVALUATION ON HEALTHCARE PERSONNEL’S KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICES OF PROPER MEDICAL WASTE MANAGEMENT AT VICTORIA HOSPITAL, EKWULOBIA,ANAMBRA STATE

1.1 Background of the Study Healthcare waste (HCW) refers to the waste generated by medical and health-related facilities, including hospitals, health centers, medical research institutions, pharmaceutical companies, pharmacies, blood banks, and home-based healthcare services. This waste is typically categorized into two main types: general (non-hazardous) waste and hazardous waste (Fasola et al., 2018). Hospitals serve as public institutions responsible for delivering a range of healthcare services, including curative, preventive, rehabilitative, and health education programs. These institutions are tasked with promoting public health not only through direct medical care but also by maintaining a clean and safe environment for their workers and the wider community (Patil & Pokhrel, 2015). All waste generated by healthcare and medical research facilities, as well as associated laboratories, is collectively known as healthcare waste (Onursal, 2017). This includes any solid or liquid material that poses an infectious risk to human health. Such waste originates from a wide array of healthcare services—ranging from hospitals, clinics, and diagnostic labs to dental clinics, veterinary services, and medical research centers (Sreegiri & Babu, 2019). Hospital waste is particularly hazardous due to its toxic and infectious nature. Moreover, individuals involved in the management of such waste—particularly healthcare waste handlers and members of the surrounding community—face significant risks from direct exposure. Although healthcare institutions may have different methods for handling medical waste, the core challenges are often consistent across facilities and throughout all stages of the waste management cycle. These include segregation, collection, packaging, storage, transportation, treatment, and final disposal (Fluke, 2017). Healthcare staff members serve as the first line of defense in mitigating the risks posed by medical waste. If these frontline workers fail to manage the waste properly, the consequences can be dire. Therefore, the responsibility of controlling healthcare waste does not lie solely with hospital management; it requires the active involvement of nurses, doctors, cleaners, and other members of the healthcare team. Waste management must begin at the point of generation, emphasizing the need for comprehensive knowledge and training on the different categories of medical waste, their associated risks, and the appropriate methods of disposal (Goddu, Duvvuri & Bakki, 2017; Pasupathi, Sindhu, Ponnusha & Ambika, 2016). Many still mistakenly believe that healthcare waste management begins and ends with incineration or mechanical treatment methods. However, this perception is misleading. Proper management of healthcare waste goes beyond mere treatment—it must start with a solid foundation built on strategic planning and early intervention. In fact, the risk from medical waste begins well before the waste reaches incinerators or treatment facilities. It includes risks of infections and environmental hazards stemming from poor handling and storage practices (Mohammed, 2019). To ensure long-term effectiveness, it is crucial to continuously monitor the practices of all staff members. In healthcare institutions, the responsibility for such oversight often falls to designated waste management officers or members of a specialized healthcare waste management committee—who also often manage infection control. To sustain high standards, regular training sessions and awareness programs should be organized to equip staff with updated skills and knowledge in waste management (Aukour, 2018; Fasola et al., 2018). 1.2 Statement of the Study In urban environments, the issue of healthcare waste management is becoming increasingly critical. In many developing nations, improper disposal practices remain widespread, with medical waste often being mixed with municipal waste—posing serious health and environmental dangers (Aukour, 2018). When non-hazardous waste is mixed with hazardous materials, the entire volume must be treated as hazardous—an approach many low-income countries, including Nigeria, are ill-equipped to implement due to the lack of proper regulatory frameworks. The handling of infectious healthcare waste has been an overlooked public health challenge in many low-resource settings. This negligence contributes significantly to environmental pollution and jeopardizes public health (Fasola, 2018). Common issues include lack of formal training for healthcare workers on proper waste disposal, absence of reliable waste treatment systems, limited financial and human capital, and the general neglect of waste management as a priority in healthcare planning. Given these challenges, it becomes essential to explore the level of awareness and the practical approaches used by healthcare workers in managing medical waste. Thus, this study aims to assess the knowledge and practices of healthcare personnel regarding proper healthcare waste management at Victoria Hospital in Ekwulobia, Anambra State. 1.3 Purpose of study The primary objective of the study is to evaluate Healthcare Personnel’s Knowledge and Practices of Proper Medical Waste Management 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 study will be of benefit to the hospital management board as it will expose them to the need of providing the necessary equipment that will be used to dispose health care waste materials. They will also be exposed to the need of training staff on the appropriate way to dispose off health care waste materials. Government : this study is significant to government as it will propel hem to strengthen the appropriate agencies responsible for over seeing the appropriate disposal of health care waste. 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. 1.9 Definition 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.