Evaluation of medical waste management practices: A case study of Obafemi Awolowo University Wesley Guide, Ilesa, Osun State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study focuses on assessing the handling, collection, and disposal of healthcare waste (HCW) at Obafememi Awolowo Teaching Hospital Wesley Guide in Ilesa, Nigeria. The research aims to determine the quantity of HCW generated, explore methods of HCW collection and disposal, and evaluate overall waste management practices in the hospital. The quantitative research design involves the administration of structured questionnaires to health workers and waste handlers, totaling 80 participants. The collected data includes information on HCW management practices such as collection, segregation, storage, disposal, and treatment. The findings reveal significant quantities of waste generated in the healthcare facility, with infectious waste accounting for 26.2 kg/day, medical waste for 46.7 kg/day, and domestic waste for 7.1 kg/day. The dominance of medical waste indicates its prevalence in the facility, while infectious waste represents a subset of medical waste associated with patients with infectious diseases. Domestic waste, comprising materials like papers and plastic, constitutes a smaller proportion. Respondents unanimously agree that improper healthcare waste management can cause communicable diseases, highlighting the environmental impact and health risks associated with inadequate waste disposal. These risks include environmental pollution, the proliferation of disease vectors (insects, rodents, and worms), and the potential transmission of diseases such as typhoid, cholera, hepatitis, and AIDS through injuries or open wounds. The study underscores the critical importance of proper healthcare waste management in preventing the spread of infectious diseases, minimizing occupational hazards, and averting environmental pollution for the wellbeing of both rural and urban residents